T  H  E 


DOOMED  CHIEF. 


A   THRILLING   TALE    OF 


PHILIP,  THE  GREAT  MM  KING, 


EARLY  COLONISTS  OF  NEW  ENGLAND. 


D.  P.  THOMPSON, 
ft 

rUKLEY,    OR     THE    TRAPPER'S    OF    UjNlB 

MOUNTAIN  BOYS,"  ETC.,  ETC.,  ETC. 


ff 

AUTHOR  OF  "  GAUT  GURLEY,  OR   THE  TRAPPER'S  OF  UMBAGOG,"  "THE  GREEN 


PHILADELPHIA: 
JOHN  E.  POTTER  AND  COMPANY, 

617  SANSOM  STREET. 


COPYRIGHTED 

BY 

•!&&>:  CcftsirANY. 


JOHN    E:  ;  fptTE'k  ;&Sft>;  CO 
*••    *       *••"•••••    • 

•  *•       •    •     •  •    •    •• 

..   :  :.:  f:  .••••: :    :  /.  •'-. 

'  •   .'  I' I  Vj  •   •    *!  I     I  •*.*• 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER    I. 

?A<n 

Opening  scene  at  Plymouth  on  the  Meeting  (louse  Green,  where  a  crowd 
were  assembled  iu  Anticipation  of  the  trial  of  three  Indians  for  murder 
— A  match  of  skill  at  target  shooting  between  Vane  Willis,  a  bold 
young  fellow  from  the  country,  and  Sniffkin,  a  young  court  lackey — 
Sparring  and  discussion  between  them,  relative  to  policy  of  the  Court 
of  Plymouth  toward  the  Indians,  in  which  Dick  Swain,  the  tool  of 
the  latter*  tiikes  a  part — The  coming  of  the  Court  announced  by  the 
ringing  of  the  bell,  and  beating  of  drums  at  Head  quarters — Sketch 
of  the  Indian  tribes,  and  their  position  towards  the  colonists 9 

CHAPTER    II. 

The  Shadow,  a  church  zealot,  arrives  with  a  secret  message  from 
Deacon  Mudgridge,  the  chief  instigator  and  manager  of  the  prosecu 
tion  against  ttie  Indians — The  arrival  of  the  procession — The  intro 
duction  of  Roger  Williams  for  the  defence  of  the  prisoners — The  trial 
and  sentence  of  death t 25 

CHAPTER    III. 

The  execution  of  the  Indian  prisoners  in  the  jail  yard — The  appearance 
of  Mctacom,  or  King  Philip,  and  Queen  Wetamoo,  on  a  roof  over 
looking  the  crowd  in  the  jail-yard — their  prophetic  denunciations 
of  the  deed,  and  their  virtual  declaration  of  war  in  consequence 52 

CHAPTER    IV. 

Moonlight  scene  in  the  street  after  the  execution — The  excitement  and 
alarm  of  the  people  at  the  signs  and  omens  seen  in  the  heavens — 
Altercation  among  Sniffkin,  the  Shadow,  Dick  Swain,  and  Vane  Willis 
—  The  ruse  of  the  latter,  to  get  rid  of  Dick,  who  was  ordered  to  play 
the  spy  on  his  movements  -  Scene  at  Deacon  Mudgridge's  house — 
Confidential  dialogue  between  him  and  the  Shadow 72 

M88261 


6  CONTENTS 

CHAPTER    V. 

PAQl 

The  scene  at  the  house  of  Madian  Southworth — The  love  passage  be 
tween  her  and  Vane  Willis,  which  closes  by  his  announcing  his  re- 
olution  of  raising  a  company  of  hia  woodsmen  comrades  to  defend  the 
settlement  against  the  Indians,  in  the  coming  war — She  gives  him 
her  father's  sword  and  bids  him  God  speed— History  of  the  family 
of  Colonel  Southworth,  who  was  the  leader  of  Cromwell's  noted  regi 
ment,  and  subsequently  outlawed,  self-banished,  and  lost  in  tho 
forests 88 

CH'APTER    VI. 

The  Deacon's  plot  to  get  Madian  into  the  church — His  persecuting 
atternpfs,  with  the  aid  of  the  Shadow,  to  force  her  to  marry  Sniffkin 
— Her  sudden  and  mysterious  disapearance,  no  one  knew  how,  or 
whither 105 

CHAPTER    VII. 

Scene  at  the  Pines  on  Charles  river — The  meeting  of  Captain  Mosely 
and  Willis — The  arrival  of  the  Praying  Indians  driven  by  Captain 
Prentiss  and  his  troop  from  Natic  to  be  taken  in  boats  to  Deer  Island 
— Their  sad  interview  with  their  pastor, tho  apostle  Elliot — The  part 
ing — and  Elliot  is  left  alone,  sorrowing  in  the  grove 125 

CHAPTER    VIII. 

Metricom  suddenly  appears — His  interview  with  Elliot  and  a  Massa 
chusetts  pommisioner,  who  also  arrives — A  war  council,  in  a  neigh 
boring  forest,  and  the  forming  of  Metacom's  first  alliance  with  the 
Nipmuc1  s  His  day  vision  on  the  top  of  Wachusett  mountain  and 
the  subsequent  war  dance 140 

CHAPTER    IX. 

Willis  distracted  at  the  flight  of  Madian,  raises  his  company,  for  the 
double  purpose  of  fighting  the  Indians,  and  recovering  her  whom  he 
supposes  to  have  beeu  taken  by  them 164 

CHAPTE  R    X 

The  breaking  out  of  tho  war  at  Sw?n?.ey — The  rallying  of  military  forces, 
and  their  inarch  Captain  Willis  detained  and  sought  to  be  arrested 
at  Plymouth,  for  a  heretic,  by  Deacon  Mudjjridge., 17fl 


CONTENTS. 
CHAPTER    XI. 

The  first  skirmish  between  Metacoin's  warriors  and  Captains  Mosely 
and  Willis'  volunteer  companies 192 

CHAPTER    XII. 

The  bold  expedition  of  Captain  Willis  against  the  Pocasset  Indians — 
Ventures  in  disguise  into  Metacom's  camp,  and  witnesses  his  meeting 
with  the  Pocassets,  led  into  his  camp  by  their  queen,  Wetamoo — 
Willis  detected,  pursued,  and  with  his  company  retreats  to  find  a 
defensible  position  on  the  shore  of  the  bay , 212 

CHAPTER    XIII. 

The  arrival  of  the  company  at  the  shore — The  furious  assault  of  the 
savages,  and  the  long  and  remarkable  fight  that  ensued,  with  the 
escape  of  the  company  on  board  a  ship  providentially  arriving 246 

CHAPTER    XIV. 

Night,  and  terrific  thunder  storm  on  the  bay — A  dismasted  vessel  on 
which  a  female  form  is  seen  in  a  flash  of  lightning,  crosses  their  path 
— a  fruitless  attempt  to  reach  her  as  she  is  thrown  on  the  rocky 
shore 256 

CHAPTER    XV. 

A  mysterious  stronger  partly  in  Indian  garb  makes  his  appearance  at 
the  old  "  For/je"  of . T times  Leonard,  in  Taunton,  and  holds  a  private 
conference  with  the  latter,  recounting  his  escape  from  shipwreck — 
Metacom  enters  in  disguise — The  stranger  and  Metacom  waylaid  by 
a  band  of  kidnappers,  but  escape  into  the  woods 275 

CHAPTER    XVI. 

Singular  scene  at  a  deserted  house,  a  mile  or  two  from  Leonard's,  be 
tween  Deacon  Muclgridge  and  the  Shadow,  while  anxiously  awaiting 
their  party — The  party  at  length  arrive  with  alarming  reports  of  a 
contest  with  evil  spirits  and  Indians,  and  all  flee  for  Plymouth 296 

CHAPTER    XVII. 

Metacom's  visit  with  the  stranger  to  the  secret  cave  of  the  Panisees  or 
Powahs  to  learn  the  fortunes  of  the  war— The  mysterious  ceremonies 
— The  prophetic  vision  of  Passnconaway,  the  aged  seer,  showing  the 
destiny  of  the  red  men,  and  then  that  of  their  white  conquerors  to 

314 


8  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER    XVIII. 

FAOZ 

A  rapid  sketch  of  the  fall  campaign,  followed  by  a  description  of  the 
Great  Swamp  fight  at  thestrong  hold  of  the  Narragansets — The  con 
flagration,  massacre,  and  disastrous  retreat — Captain  Willis  wounded, 
and  carried  off  into  the  woods  by  the  mysterious  stranger,  who  sud 
denly  appears  at  the  close  of  the  battle 342 

CHAPTER    XIX. 

The  sickness  of  Willis  in  the  wintry  forest— Bold  counsels  of  Nnnun- 
tenoo — He  is  elected  chief  of  the  Narragansets — Willis  removed  to 
the  island  of  Aquidneck  by  the  stranger 373 

CHAPTER    XX. 

"Willis's  long  insensible  condition  at  the  house  of  a  Quakeress — Her  sad 
story— Willis's  recovery— Visit  of  Captain  Mosely— Gloomy  news....  391 

CHAPTER    XXI. 

Scene  at  a  house  in  Providence,  of  which  the  mysterious  stranger  and 
the  lost  Madian  appear  to  be  the  occupants — Willis,  Captain  Mosely 
and  Roger  Williams  arrive,  and  joyous  developments  transpire 412 

CHA  PTER    XXII. 

A  scene  at  the  South  worth  Mansion — The  fears  and  bodings  of  Deacon 
Mudgridge — The  startling  developments  before  the  Court  of  Ply 
mouth — And  the  awful  fate  of  Deacon  Mudgridge 43f 

THE  CONCLUSION. 

Brief  sketch  of  the  melancholy  situation  of  the  doomed  red  men — Their 
last  stand  over  the  graves  of  their  fathers  al  Mount  Hope — the  clos 
ing  scenes  of  the  deaths  of  Metacom  and  Wetamoo 460 


THE  DOOMED  CHIEF, 


CHAPTER    i. 

"New  England,  then,  for  many  years 

Had  had  both  rest  and  peace  ; 
But  now  the  case  was  otherwise— 
Her  troubles  did  increase." 

PETER  FALGER,  the  Pilgrim  poet. 

IT  was  an  anxious,  as  well  as  a  stirring  day  with  the  colonists 
at  New  Plymouth.  The  public  mind,  for  the  last  few  months, 
had  been  laboring  under  a  very  unusual,  and  a  constantly  in 
creasing  excitement.  Among  all  classes  of  men  there  evi 
dently  existed  a  deep,  though  unacknowledged  consciousness, 
that  the  calculations  of  selfishness,  craft,  and  fraud,  instead  of 
obedience  to  the  simple  dictates  of  justice  and  honesty,  hud 
latterly  characterized  their  intercourse  with  the  Indians. 
This,  as  in  most  other  cases  of  conscious  wrong  doi  ig,  had 
made  them,  especially  the  leading  men  of  the  colony,  pecu 
liarly  sensitive  respecting  the  relations  in  which  they  stood 
with  the  red  men,  filling  them  with  jealousies,  suspicions,  and 
apprehensions,  lest  the  latter,  impressed  doubtless  with  the 
same  or  livelier  convictions  of  their  wrongs,  should  be  secretly 
nourishing  thoughts  and  schemes  of  redress  and  retribution. 
The  colonists  were  also  fully  conscious  that  the  injured  race 
were  now  no  longer  the  comparatively  harmless  and  contemp- 

(0) 


10  THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

tiblo  foes  they  were  in  times  past,  when  bows  and  arrows  and 
war-clubs  were  their  most  formidable  weapons,  whole  scores 
of  which  were  scarcely  good  against  a  single  musket  in  battle  j 
but  that  they  had,  at  this  period,  almost  universally  supplied 
themselves  with  fire  arms,  in  the  fatal  use  of  which,  when 
occasion  required,  they  had  no  superiors,  even  among  the  must 
expert  sharp-shooters  of  the  old  world.  And  especially  and 
•painfully  ccBse-ioyus  were  likewise  the  leading  colonists,  that 
i|)  'rfuiditieri  fci>",the  Advantages  thus  possessed  by  their  appre- 
< honied  .foes,,  tjhere  had  now  sprung  up  among  them  a  Master 
!  Spirit  wj?o  'vyajs  believed  tp  be  fully  capable  of  combining,  and 
giving  direction  to  all' the  various  elements  of  their  disaffection 
with  fearful  effect.  That  Master  Spirit  was  Metacom,  the 
King  Philip  of  subsequent  historic  renown.  And  it  was  not 
without  reason  they  feared  that  he,  insulted,  fined,  and  dra 
gooned  as  he  had  been  into  hollow  treaties  of  peace,  would  not 
long  remain  inactive  or  forego — unless  prompt  and  decided 
measures  were  taken  to  prevent  the  execution  of  what  was 
believed  to  be  his  bold  and  settled  design — a  war  of  exter 
mination  against  the  colonists  of  New  England. 

Something  therefore  it  was  felt  should  immediately  be  done. 
And  something  was  done.  But,  as  too  often  happens  among 
people  laboring  under  a  high  degree  of  excitement  and  appre 
hension,  the  colonists  seemed  madly  intent  on  rushing  into 
measures  which  hastened  on  the  very  event  they  were  so 
anxious  to  avoid.  And  the  consequence  was  that  they  soon 
j -lunged  their  hapless  colony  into  those  fearful  scenes  of  blood 
and  woe,  which  characterized  the  year  that  followed  the  open 
ing  act  of  the  story  on  which  we  are  about  to  enter. 

It  was  a  calm  and  sunny  morning  in  the  fore  part  of  the 
leafy  month  of  June,  1675.  A  crowd  of  loiterers,  evidently 
awaiting  some  expected  event,  were  scattered  over  the  smooth 
and  ample  grass  plat  surrounding  the  Meeting  House  of  the 
first  planted  village  of  New  England,  the  noted  Plymouth  of 


TARGET    SHOOTING.  11 

Pilgrim  memories.  Among  the  mingled  and  diversified  com 
pany  present  on  the  occasion,  consisting  of  villagers,  and  those 
who  had  come  in  from  the  neighboring  towns  to  witness  the 
public  proceedings  of  the  day,  were  a  small  party  of  young 
men  who,  to  while  away  the  time  of  their  waiting,  had  entered 
in:o  a  contest  of  marksmanship,  which  being  almost  the  only 
kind  of  amusement  countenanced  among  the  young  men,  by 
the  over  scrupulous  elders,  was  generally  engaged  in  with 
great  zest,  serving  the  young  as  a  sort  of  standing  exhibition, 
in  all  public  gatherings,  save  those  of  a  religious  character. 
The  contesting  party  in  the  present  instance,  were  a  half 
dozen  youngerly  men,  of  ages  varying  from  twenty  to  thirty, 
all  supplied  with  fowling  pieces,  or  hunting  guns,  of  the  best 
construction  for  the  use  of  the  bullet.  Deeming  themselves 
among  the  best  marksmen  of  the  colony,  they  had  agreed 
upon  a  target,  and  a  distance,  which  should  fully  test,  their 
pretensions  to  nice  shooting,  the  mark  being  a  black  ring,  four 
inches  in  diameter,  with  two  less  visible  inner  concentric  cir 
cles,  and  a  black  spot  of  the  size  of  a  half  crown  in  the  mid 
dle,  all  painted  on  a  white  board,  and  placed  at  the  distance 
of  one  hundred  yards  from  the  shooting  stand,  Having  all 
fired  once  round,  it  was  seen  that  four  of  the  contestants, 
though  all  making  close  shots,  had  failed  to  plant  their  bullets 
within  the  black  ring.  These  having  now,  by  their  rules,  no 
hope  of  !  earing  off  the  palm,  voluntarily  retired  from  the  con 
test,  which  was  thus  left  to  be  decided  by  the  remaining  two, 
who  had  both  sent  their  balls  within  the  ring,  both  bullets  nearly 
alike  grazing  the  next  inner  circle,  and  falling  consequently 
about  equi-distant  from  the  centre.  The  attention  of  the 
crowd,  who,  by  this  time,  had  all  gathered  round  the  spot,  was 
xiow  especially  directed  to  the  two  remaining  candidates  for 
the  palm  of  victory.  In  personal  appearance,  these  two  rival 
marksmen  were  alike  in  nothing,  save  in  the  evidence  of  their 
similar  ages,  which  were  probably  twenty-four  or  twenty-five 


12  THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

years.  One  was,  for  the  times,  richly  and  fashionably  dressed 
And  this  circumstance,  together  with  the  contemptuous^ 
sneering  expression  that  rested  on  his  small,  unattractive  fea 
tures,  denoted  that  he  was  connected  with  some  family  of 
wealth,  and  of  real,  or  assumed  consequence  in  the  colony, 
that  he  was  disposed  to  plume  himself  on  what  he  considered 
his  elevated  position  in  society,  and  consequently  to  look  upon 
the  common  sort  of  men,  as  all  well  enough  in  their  places, 
to  be  sure,  but  not  exactly  fit  to  be  counted  among  his  asso 
ciates  The  other  WHS  a  plainly  dressed,  but  noble  looking 
young  man,  of  a  shapely,  compact  form,  and  of  unusually 
handsome  features,  enlivened  with  one  of  those  clear,  frank, 
and  firm  countenances,  which  betoken  intelligence,  good  mo 
tives,  and  cool  courage. 

"  Dick  Swain,"  said  a  bystander,  beckoning  to  his  side  a 
short,  bustling,  restless  fellow,  with  a  hooked  nose,  and  a  sort 
of  shiny,  unsteady  countenance,  and  at  the  same  time  point 
ing  to  the  plainly  dressed  marksman  just  described,  "  Dick, 
who  is  that  fellow  who  is  so  confidently  preparing  to  contest 
the  palm  with  Mr.  Sniffkin,  the  English  trained  marks 
man  ?" 

"That  fellow,"  replied  the  person  thus  appealed  to,  coming 
up.  and  speaking  in  that  low,  confidential  way,  common  with 
men  of  secretiveness — "  his  name  is  Vane  Willis,  from  one 
of  the  neighboring  towns, — a  bold  hunter,  and  a  sure  murks- 
man,  they  say,  he  having  practiced  a  good  deal  with  the  In 
dians,  and  proved  himself  a  match  for  the  best  of  them.  I 
know  Mr.  Snifl'kin  is  well  trained  in  shooting,  and  has  the 
most  costly  and  high  finished  piece  in  the  colony;  but  I  am 
really  afraid  this  Willis,  with  his  heavy,  thick  barreled  gun, 
will  beat  him." 

"Afraid!  why  afraid  ?"' a*ked  the  former.  "Every  man 
has  an  equal  right  to  the  palm,  if  he  can  get  it,  hasn't  he  ?" 

"Yes,  yes;  but  then  Mr.  Sniffkin  you  know,  is  the  ne- 


THE   RIVALS.  13 

phew  of  Deacon  Mudgridge,  and  so  connected  with  the  Go 
vernor,  who  was  related  to  the  Deacou's  wife  before  she  died. 
Besides  that,  Mr.  Sniffkin  is  a  member  of  the  church,  and  that 
fellow  ain't.  And  then  Mr.  Sniffkiii  prides  himself  so  much 
on  his  skill  in  shooting.  And  then  again,  I  suspect,  there  is 
another  reason  why  he  wants  to  beat  the  fellow — to  humble 
him — something  about  a  certain  girl  in  this  town — you  under 
stand,  hey  ?  But  stay ;  they  are  about  to  fire  !" 

Sniffkin  was  evidently  desirous  that  his  rustic  rival  should 
be  the  first  to  fire,  arid,  in  a  tone  sounding  very  much  like  a 
command,  requested  him  to  proceed.  But  the  other,  with  a 
slight  curl  of  the  lip,  and  a  little  sprinkling  of  irony  in  his 
manner,  peremptorily  declined  that  honor  •  when  the  privi 
leged  gentleman  advanced  to  the  stand,  and,  after  having  at 
length  found  a  phice  to  rest  his  piece  which  satisfied  him,  he 
took  a  lonir,  careful  aim,  and  fired. 

Dick  Swain,  and  four  or  five  others  of  Sniffkin's  obsequious 
friends,  sprang  forward  to  the  target,  and  soon  announced 
that  the  bullet  had  bored  it  within  half  an  iuch  of  the  small 
black  spot  in  the  centre. 

"  Yes,  Vane  Willis  is  as  good  as  beat/''  cried  the  exulting 
inspectors,  as  they  came  swaggering  along  back  to  the  stand. 
11  He  can  never  equal  that  shot." 

"  Don't  boast  quite  so  soon.  We  can  tell  better  after  Vane  has 
fired."  retorted  the  friends  of  Willis,  who  were  evidently  a  ma 
jority  of  the  marksmen  present,  and  who  now  gathered  round 
their  tacitly  acknowledged  leader,  with  looks  plainly  betoken 
ing  their  confidence  of  his  triumph. 

Without  pretending  to  notice  the  self  satisfied  and  super 
cilious  airs  of  his  rival,  or  the  remarks  of  either  party,  Vane 
quietly  advanced  to  the  stand,  and,  waving  off  those  who  were 
preparing  a  place  for  him  to  rest,  his  piece,  like  the  one  his 
competitor  had  used,  raised  his  gun  at  arm's  length,  and  al 
most  instantly  fired.  So  quick  and  sudden,  indeed,  did  the 


14  THE   DOOMED    CHIEF. 

report  follow  the  upward  movement  of  the  barrel,  that  most 
of  the  company  supposed  that  the  gun  had  gone  off  by  acci 
dent,  and  before  it  could  have  been  brought  to  bear  on  the  object 
of  aim.  But  on  being  told  by  the  unruffled  young  marksman 
that  he  had  obtained  all  the  aim  he  wanted,  his  friends  now, 
in  their  turn,  bounded  forward  for  the  target.  There  was  a 
momentary  silence  among  them  at  first;  and  then  rose  their 
exulting  shout  of  victory.  The  bullet  had  pierced  the  very 
middle  of  the  black  centre  mark  ;  and  the  triumph  was  com 
plete. 

"  An  arm's  length  shot  against  one  with  a  rest,  and  a  clean 
victory  at  that  !"  cried  one  of  the  exulting  party. 

"  It  is  nothing  more  than  I  expected,"  added  another. 
"  The  fact  is,  Vane  Willis  is  the  best  shot  in  the  whole 
colony." 

"  I  dispute  that/'  said  Sniflfkin,  stung  by  the  applause  that 
had  greeted  his  opponent,  whom,  in  his  ill-concealed  spite 
and  vexation,  he  was  eager  to  disparage — u  I  dispute  it.  This 
"Was  doubtless  but  a  mere  chance  shot." 

"  Perhaps  it  was ;  but  I  am  quite  willing  to  try  it  over 
agnin  with  you,"  coolly  remarked  Vane.  "  What  say  you, 
sir,  shall  we  thus  put  the  question  to  the  test  ?" 

"  No,"  replied  the  other  disdainfully  j  "  I  may  prefer  to 
choose  my  own  company,  when  I  engage  in  another  contest. 
Nathless  I  dispute  the  assertion  that  you  are  the  best  shot  in 
the  country." 

"  So  do  I,"  rejoined  the  former ;  "  there  is  one  in  the  country 
whom  I  know  to  be  my  full  equal,  but  his  name  is  not  Timo 
thy  Sniffkin." 

"  Who  is  it  then,  Vane  ?"  asked  the  one  who  Lad  made  the 
disputed  assertion. 

"  It  is  Metacom." 

«  King  Philip  ?" 

"  Yes,  King  Philip,  of  Mount  Hope.     I  have  had  repeated 


THE    TWO    RIFLES  15 

trials  with  him  both  in  the  chase  and  at  a  mark.  Neither 
could  claim  any  advantage  over  the  other  from  the  quality  of 
his  gun  ]  for  our  guns,  which  were  brought  over  by  two  Ger 
man  sportsmen,  some  years  ago,  and  sold  when  they  returned, 
are  precisely  alike,  being  the  only  ones  of  the  same  make  in 
the  colony,  probably.  They  were  made  expressly  for  the 
bullet,  which,  by  means  ofxa  curious  \vinding  groove  inside 
the  barrel,  as  you  can  see  by  mine  here,  is  made  to  whirl  as 
it  goes  through  the  air.*  I  was  lucky  enough  to  secure  one; 
and  Metacom,  who  has  a  keen  eye  for  such  matters,  somehow 
soon  got  hold  of  the  other.  And  he  has  since  practiced  with 
such  effect,  that  he  has  no  superior,  and  probably  not  a  single 
equal  in  quick  and -accurate  shooting,  this  side  of  the  great 
water. 

"  You  seem  to  have  been  quite  intimate  with  that  vile, 
treacherous  savage/'  maliciously  remarked  Sniffkin,  winking 
significantly  to  his  backers. 

"  Vile  and  treacherous  !"  repeated  Vane,  as  with  flashing 
eye,  he  advanced  and  bo-ldly  confronted  his  sneering  opponent. 
"  Would  to  heaven,  that,  for  the  peace  and  safety  of  our  en 
dangered  colony,  the  vileness  and  treachery  were  all  on  one 
side !  But  what  meant  you,  sir,  by  that  insinuating  re 
mark  ?" 

"  Oh,  nothing  in  particular!"  replied  the  former,  evidently 
surprised,  and  at  first,  disconcerted  at  the  fearless  confronting 

*  The  history  of  no  invention  is  more  obscure  than  that  of  the  rifle.  But 
it  is  evident  that  the  invention  is  of  German  origin,  and  dates  back  nearly 
500  years  since;  as  early  as  1381,  we  find  it  stated  that  a  city  in  Franconia 
furnished  thirty  rifles,  or  guns  with  grooved  barrels,  in  a  war  with  the  nobil 
ity.  It  is  also  stated  that  in  1498,  guns  with  rifled  barrels  were  in  use  at 
shooting  matches  at  Leipsic.  Their  use,  however,  was  very  rare  till  long 
after  the  settlement  of  the  American  colonies.  The  Indians  seem  to  have 
understood  the  principle,  as  shown  by  feathering  their  arrows,  so  as  to  give 
them  a  spiral  motion;  hence  their  eagerness  to  adopt  the  weapon  as  soon  as 
they  could  obtain  it. 


16  THE   DOOMED    CHIEF 

of  the  other.  "Nothing,  in  particular;  but  it  mfly  be  well 
enough,"  he  added,  rallying  a  little,  "  to  have  it  known,  at 
this  critical  juncture,  who  those  are,  that  have  been  consort 
ing  with,  and  still  seem  disposed  to  defend  one,  who,  with  his 
devilish  heathen  crew,  may  soon  be  arrayed  against  us  in 
arms." 

"  Yes,  sir,  and  if  that  time  does  come,"  retorted  Willis, 
"and  this  piece,  in  my  hands,  with  my  knowledge  of  the 
enemy,  dues  not  as  good  service  on  our  side,  as  your  piece,  in 
your  hands,  then  I  will  agree  to  bear  your  taunts  in  silence. 
And  I  now  challenge  you,  sir,  in  anticipation  of  such  a  time, 
to  enter  with  me,  on  that  condition,  into  the  actual  contest — 
a  contest  which  will  better  show  who  is  truly  the  man,  and 
the  marksman,  than  this  by-play  of  shooting  at  a  mark,  where 
there  are  no  dangers  to  be  encountered.  Yes,  sir,  I  repeat 
the  challenge ;  and  I  have  a  few  friends  here,  I  think,"  he  added 
looking  around  on  the  little  band  of  his  hardy  comrades,  who, 
as  the  altercation  progressed,  drew  closer  and  closer  to  his 
side,  with  increasing  manifestations  of  their  sympathy — "  a 
few  friends,  perhaps,  who  are  willing  to  vouch  for  me  that  I 
shall  not  be  the  first  one  to  back  out.  Will  you  go  my 
vouchers  for  that,  boys  ?" 

A  hearty  shout  of  affirmation  was  the  prompt  response  to 
the  appeal,  which  was  thus  made  and  answered  with  the 
more  emphasis,  doubtless,  because  they  all  wished  to  show 
the  haughty  court-minion  that  one  of  their  number  was  not  to 
be  put  down  by  sneers,  or  disparaged  by  groundless  insinua 
tions. 

"There!  Now  you  will  please  remember  all  this,  sir,"  re 
sumed  the  speaker,  pointing  to  the  visibly  perplexed  and  dis 
concerted  Sniffkin.  "  And  you  too,  my  friends,  remember  to 
hold  me  to  my  pledge,  for  making  good  my  own  offer  in  this 
behalf/' 

"  0,  yes,"  responded  one  of  those  last  addressed.     "  Yes, 


THE   INDIAN   PRISONERS.  17 

if  times  should  really  come,  when  there  is  any  occasion  for 
making  good  such  an  offer ;  and  it  should  then  be  necessary, 
which  it  won't  be,  to  jog  your  mem^"y,  we  will  do  it.  But 
do  you  seriously  suppose  we  are  likely  to  see  those  times, 
Willis  ?  Do  you  think  there  is  actually  any  danger  of  our 
being  involved  in  an  Indian  war  ?" 

11  Aye,  I  do  think  there  is  much  danger  of  such  an  event," 
replied  the  other.  "  And  if  our  people — especially  our  rulers — 
persist  in  the  course  they  now  seem  so  intent  on  taking  to 
wards  the  already  greatly  irritated  red  men,  I  feel  a  bloody  war 
is  inevitable." 

"  Take  notice  of  that,  good  people  of  Plymouth  !"  eagerly 
exclaimed  the  court  lackey,  looking  round  on  the  crowd  with 
an  air  of  malicious  triumph.  "  He  has  shown  himself  a  seeker 
of  occasions  to  disparage  our  rulers  and  take  the  part  of  the 
heathen  salvages  against  them.  Take  notice  of  it,  ye  all, 
good  people,  will  you  ?" 

"  Yes,  take  notice  of  it,  all  who  wish,"  promptly  responded 
the  other,  with  increasing  earnestness;  "  and  take  notice  also 
of  the  prediction  I  now,  and  here  boldly  venture  to  make, 
that  if  these  Indian  prisoners,  whom  we  are  waiting  to  see 
tried  here  to-day,  for  the  alleged  oifence  of  taking  the  life 
of  one  of  their  own  tribe,  who,  by  their  laws,  had  become  a 
traitor  and  an  outlaw, — if  these  prisoners,  known  to  be  the 
leading  men  of  the  tribe,  and  the  councillors  of  King  Philip, 
are  condemned  and  executed,  there  will,  before  the  month's 
end,  burst  upon  us  a  war  which  may  not  cease  till  the  very 
existence  of  these  colonies  is  put  in  jeopardy  !" 

The  startling  import  of  this  prediction,  together  with  the 
eerious  and  decided  manner  in  which  it  was  uttered,  fell  with 
chilling  effect  upon  the  whole  company,  producing  a  very 
visible  sensation,  both  among  those  who  coincided  with  the 
Breaker,  in  regard  to  the  mistaken  policy  of  their  rulers  in 

their  strangely  mingled  church  and  state  government,  and 
2 


18  THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

among  those  also  who  looked  upon  those  rulers  as  all  but  in 
fallible  in  wisdom  and  discretion;  for  it  was  but  giving  voice 
to  an  apprehension  by  which  they  were  all  secretly  impressed, 
however  they  might  differ  about  the  best  means  of  averting 
the  impending  danger.  Even  the  arrogant  and  self-sufficient 
Sniffkin,  who  had  found  matter  of  accusation  in  the  far  less 
pointed  and  objectionable  remarks  previously  made  by  his 
hated  rival,  was  now  too  deeply  impressed,  or  too  much  aston 
ished  by  his  bold  words  and  fearless  demeanor,  to  attempt  to 
gainsay  them  or  renew  his  ill-natured  and  ungeutlemanly 
assault. 

-The  silence  that  followed  the  dialogue  thus  impressively 
brought  to  a  close  by  the  out-spoken  young  marksman,  was, 
however,  soon  broken  by  the  startling  peals  of  the  church- 
bell  in  the  belfry,  almost  above  their  heads,  which  all  under 
stood  to  betoken  the  arrival  of  the  hour  of  the  expected  trial, 
that  was  to  be  held  in  the  Meeting  House,  around  which  they 
were  assembled,  and  soon  the  roll  of  a  drum  at  the  head  quar 
ters  of  the  Governor,  his  assistants,  and  the  church  dignitaries, 
of  whom  the  court  was  to  be  composed,  announced  that  the 
^military  guards  were  then  mustering,  preparatory  to  bringing 
out  the  prisoners  and  forming  a  procession  for  the  place  of 
trial.  All  eyes  were  therefore  expectantly  turned  in  that  di 
rection.  But  the  eager  spectators  were  not  to  be  very  imme 
diately  gratified  by  the  appearance  of  any  coming  procession. 
The  bell-man,  in  obedience  to  some  signal  made  from  the 
Governor's  house,  soon  ceased  to  ring  the  bell.  The  drum 
ceased  beating,  and  every  thing  indicated  that  there  was  to  be 
a  temporary  delay  of  proceedings  at  head-quarters.  And  in 
stead  of  the  expected  retinue,  a  solitary  man  made  his  appear 
ance,  coming  from  that  direction.  His  hurried  motions,  as 
indicated,  in  the  distance,  by  the  rapid  bobbing  up  and 
down  of  his  tall,  steeple-shaped  hat,  and  the  quick,  regular 
outward  flaunting  of  the  skirts  of  his  long,  tunic-like  coat,  all 


BEACON    JDUMMER.  19 

moving  in  correspondence  with  his  steps  as  he  advanced, 
seemed  to  show  that  he  was  bound  on  some  mission  requiring 
special  despatch  ;  and  his  appearance  under  the  circumstan 
ces,  consequently,  very  naturally 4 soon  attracted  the  attention 
of  the  expected  company. 

"  Who  is  that  tall  man  coming  this  way  so  hurriedly,  Dick  ?" 
asked  Sniffkin,  beckoning  the  other  aside. 

"  Why  it  looks  like  Deacon  Mudgridge's  Shadow/'  replied 
Dick  carelessly. 

"  Deacon  Mudgridge's  Shadow  !  who  do  you  mean  by  that, 
sir  ?" 

"Crave  your  pardon,  Mr.  Sniffkin,  meant  no  offence;  but 
some  call  him  so'/" 

«  Call  who  so  ?" 

"  Why,  Mr.  Dummer,  to  be  sure — Deacon  Dummer,  per 
haps  I  should  say,  as  I  have  heard  that  he  had  been  advanced 
in  the  church — elected  assistant,  or  supernumerary  deacon,  or 
something  of  the  sort,  may  be." 

"  0,  ho — yes  ;  well  I  at  first  didn't  know  but  you  meant  my 
uncle,  Deacon  Mudgridge  himself,  the  strongest  pillar  of 
Church  and  State  in  the  whole  colony,  and  therefore  a  man 
not  to  be  spoken  lightly  of  by  any.  But  you  should  be  careful 
about  picking  up  the  nicknames,  and  cant  phrases  of  vulgar 
schismatics  and  scoffers,  even  against  Dummer,  who  is  a  very 
zealous  and  useful  man,  and  is  indeed  talked  of  as  a  fourth 
deacon.  And  I  think  he  will  get  the  place,  too,  if  he  does 
as  well  in  other  things  as  he  has  in  aiding  Deacon  Mudgridge 
to  go  through  with  this  important  measure  on  hand  to  strike 
a  damper  on  that  audacious  King  Philip." 

"  Glad  to  hear  that  of  Dummer ;  for  I  am  with  the  courfc 
party  in  this  measure,  you  know,  Mr.  Sniffkin.  And  though 
I  never  mean  to  boast  much  ;  yet  I  think  I  may  say,  I  have 
already  done  considerable  myself  towards  helping  it  for 
ward." 


20  THE   D0031ED   CHIEF. 

"  Aye,  you  have  done  very  well  Dick,  and  won  the  praise 
of  Deacon  Mudgridge,  who  says  you  are  a  fellow  of  bright 
natural  parts.  But  you  may  have  a  chance  to  do  much  more, 
to-day;  for  this  matter  must  and  will  be  carried  through, 
notwithstanding  all  that  has  been  said  by  that  low  caitiff,  Vane 
Willis,  whose  treasonable  words  just  now  I  hope  you  will  re 
member  and  report  to  our  rulers,  whom  he  has  so  shamefully 
reviled.  But  here  comes  Dummer,  and  with  some  word  or 
messaire  from  head  quarters,  I  fancy." 

The  subject  of  this  last  remark,  a  lank,  long,  sanctimonious 
looking  man,  whom,  as  Dick  Swain  had  inadvertently  remarked, 
the  people,  or  rather  the  more  independent  and  outspoken 
par  toft  hem  at  least,  had  playfully  dubbed  Deacon  Mudgridge's 
Shadow,  on  account  of  his  well  known  subserviency  to  that 
important  personage,  whom  he  copied  and  followed  almost  as 
faithfully  as  the  shadow  its  substance — now  came  striding 
forward  with  a  countenance  working  with  solemn  anxiety. 

"  What  is  the  news  from  head  quarters,  Dummer?"  asked 
Sniffkin,  as  he  and  Dick  advanced  to  meet  the  former  far 
enough  to  be  out  of  earshot  of  all  others — "  What  is  the  news 
now  ?  Have  they  got  the  jury  together  and  everything  rightly 
fixed  there  ?" 

"Mostly,"  replied  Dummer,  "mostly  fixed,  Mr.  Sniffkin; 
and  they  supposed  they  had  quite,  and  were  on  the  point  of 
starting  for  the  Meeting  House,  but" — 

"But  what?  Tell  us  at  once,  Diwiimer." 

"  Well,  they  have  concluded  to  delay  a  brief  time,  on  ac 
count  of  some  untoward  appearances." 

"  W'hat  appearances  ?  What  new  thing  has  turned  up  now  ?" 

"Nothing  very  certain,  peradventure  ;  but  Rosier  Williams, 
that  noted  old  schismatic,  who  is  so  prone  to  side  with  the 
powers  of  darkness  now  peculiarly  manifest  in  the  doings  of  the 
salvages,  those  children  of  Sathana,  has  arrived  this  morning 


•DOUBTING    INDIAN    JURORS.  21 

from  Providence,  to  see  that  the  Indians  have  fair  dealing  in 
the  coming  trial,  he  says." 

11  That  means,  I  suppose,  that,  instigated  and  hired  by  that 
damned  sachem  Philip,  he  has  come  on  to  defend  and  get  them 
clear." 

u  Yea,  truly;  and  it  is  greatly  feared  that  he  has  somehow 
got  speech  with  some  of  the  five  Indians,  who,  to  save  all  re- 
ni.irks  of  the  ill-disposed  against  our  fairness,  and  forever  shut 
the  mouths  of  the  salvages  in  the  same  behalf,  were,  as  your 
self  doth  know,  put  on  the  jury  with  our  twelve  white  jurors. 
For,  although  these  five  red  i^en  were  selected  with  proper 
care,  and  have  ever  since  been  kept  under  righteous  influen 
ces  till  this  morning,  yet  some  think  they  now  see  in  them 
tokens  of  weakness  and  wavering.  Moreover,  the  Indian  wit 
ness,  whose  report  and  confessions  so  providentially  led  to  the 
arrest  of  the  murderers  of  our  Christian  friend,  Sassamon,  and 
who  was  ready  to  swear  he  saw  the  murder  committed,  and 
that  he  could  identify  the  murderers,  now  seems  strangely  sul 
len  and  perverse." 

11  These  things  must  be  seen  to  immediately;  but  what  does 
Deacon  Mudgridge  think  had  better  be  done  ?" 

"  Well  he  thinks,"  replied  the  other,  lowering  his  voice  to 
a  confidential  tone, — "he  thinks, — and  that  was  what  I  came 
to  see  about, — he,  I  say,  thinks  that  our  friend,  Dick  Swain, 
here,  might  be  the  right  person  to  see  and  manage  these  weak 
and  doubting  Indian  jurors,  who  have  been  thus  induced  to 
come  forward  to  help  the  Lord's  side.  He  thinks  also,  that, 
peradventure,  they  might,  like  their  witness  fees  before  hand, 
the  amount  whereof  need  not  be  stinted  to  any  exact  legal 
ii?age.  And  yet,  furthermore,  he  thinks  they  may  need 
strengthening  in  bodily  firmness.  And  he  has,  therefore  sent, 
by  me,  these  instruments,  whereby  ^ood  may  be  wrought  out," 
added  the  speaker,  drawing  out  a  handful  of  silver  coin  with 


22  THE    DOOMED    CHIEF. 

one  hand,  and  a  bottle  of  rum  with  the  other,  and  covertly 
passing  them  to  Dick. 

And  the  unscrupulous  Dick  as  covertly  took  possession  of 
the  proffered  articles,  and  with  an  affirming  nod  to  the  Shadow, 
and  a  knowing  wink  to  Sniffkin,  silently  passed  them  under 
his  coat  j  when  the  three  moved  off,  with  an  assumed  air  of 
leisurely  indifference,  towards  the  Governor's  quarters. 

Before  introducing  the  remarkable  trial,  to  which  we  al 
luded  as  about  to  take  place, — a  trial  which  was  destined,  as 
the  fearless  and  sagacious  young  marksman  we  have  introduced, 
hud  hypothetically  predicted,  to  be  the  precursor  of  the  dark 
est  day  ever  witnessed  by  the  infant  colonies  of  New  England — 
before  introducing  this  eventful  trial,  we  should,  perhaps, 
for  the  more  ready  appreciation  by  the  reader  of  the  scenes 
next  to  follow,  take  a  cursory  glance  at  the  character  and  con 
ditions  of  the  different  tribes  of  New  England  Indians,  to 
gether  with  the  principal  historical  events,  which  grew  out  of 
their  relations  with  the  whites,  and  which  seem  to  have  been 
more  immediately  connected  with  the  particular  crisis  we  have 
undertaken  to  delineate. 

When  the  Puritan  colonists  had  established  themselves 
in  their  different  locations  in  New  England,  and  began  to  en 
quire  into  the  situation,  numbers,  and  distinctive  characters,  of 
the  unknown  wild  people,  by  whom  they  wore  surrounded, 
they  found  within  what  they  esteemed  their  chartered  limits, 
three  great,  distinct,  independent  tribes,  whose  numbers  and 
power  seemed  to  give  them  a  controlling  influence  in  the 
country,  and  to  command  a  sort  of  tacit  submission  from  all 
the  various  smaller  tribes,  and  fragments  of  tribes,  surviving 
the  great,  pestilence,  which  had  evidently,  a  short  period  be 
fore  the  advent  of  the  whites,  swept  untold  thousands  of  them 
into  their  forest  graves.  These  three  tribes  were  the  Pequods, 
occupying  the  valley  of  Connecticut  river,  the  Narragansetts, 
occupying  the  western  part  of  Rhode  Island,  and  the  Warn- 


M ASS A SOI T.  23 

pnnoogs,  or  Wampanoags,  occupying  the  eastern  part  of  Rhode 
Island,  and  the  southern  part  of  Massachusetts,  but  exercis 
ing  a  nominal  sway  over  all  the  other  tribes  wit'hin  the  terri 
torial  limits  of  the  Plymouth  and  Massachusetts  colonies.  Of 
these,  the  Pequods,  a  fierce  arid  sanguinary  race  of  warriors, 
had,  by  the  rare  good  fortune  of  a  successful  surprise  been 
broken  up,  and  almost  utterly  destroyed  by  the  whites,  nearly 
forty  years  previous  to  the  time  we  have  chosen  for  the  open 
ing  of  our  story.  This  left  but  two  of  the  only  tribes  much 
to  be  feared, — the  Narragansetts,  a  numerous  but  not  remarka 
bly  warlike  tribe,  perhaps,  and  the  Wampanoogs,  the  most 
warlike  and  proudly  independent  of  them  all,  to  take  their 
stand  against  the  whites,  in  case  the  time  should  arrive,  when 
the  aggressions  of  the  latter  should  awaken  the  jealousies  and 
hostilities  of  the  former,  and  induce  them  to  combine  and 
make  a  common  cause  in  defence  of  their  rights.  And  that 
time,  in  spite  of  all  the  efforts  of  the  colonial  diplomatists  of 
that  day,  to  dupe  and  over-awe  the  Wampanoogs,  and  keep 
them  from  an  alliance  with  the  Narragansetts,  had  now  been 
for  several  years,  gradually  drawing  near.  For  the  first  forty 
years  after  the  arrival  of  the  Pilgrims  in  the  country,  and 
while  they  were  weak  and  consciously  in  the  power  of  the  na 
tives,  they  earnestly  courted  the  friendship  of  the  stronger 
tribes,  especially  that  of  the  influential  Wampanoogs,  and  care 
fully  abstained  from  all  acts  of  injustice  and  causes  of  offence. 
And  their  first  treaty  with  the  sincere  and  noble-hearted  Mas- 
sasoit,  king  of  that  tribe1,  having  been  made  with  earnest  and 
honorable  intent,  and  carried  out  in  good  faith,  was  preserved 
uriinfringed  during  his  whole  life,  constituting  a  continually 
brightening  chain  of  friendship  between  the  contracting  parties, 
and  beautifully  exemplifying  the  important  truth  subsequently 
confirmed  and  demonstrated  by  the  pure  and  wise  William 
Penn,  that  when  the  whites  act  sincerely  and  in  no  way  be 
come  the  aggressors,  there  is  no  difficulty  iu  living  in  peace 


24  THE   DOOMED    CHIEF. 

and  amity  with  the  Indians.  But,  at  length,  the  <rood  old 
Massasoit  passed  away,  leaving  the  .succession  to  his  two  sons 
Wamsutta  and  Metacom,  both  young  men  alike,  ennobled  by 
birth  and  elevation  of  character,  and  well  fitted  to  sustain  the 
dignity  of  their  father's  throne.  These  young  men,  during 
the  halcyon  period  of  faith,  honesty,  and  peace,  that  preceded 
the  death  of  Massasoit,  had  mingled  freely  with  the  colonists, 
visited  the  court  of  Plymouth,  received  from  the  Governor  the 
complimentary  names  of  Alexander  and  Philip, — were  courted 
on  account  of  their  high  position,  respected  for  their  manly 
deportment  and  unusual  personal  endowments,  and  afforded 
facilities  for  information,  which  were  rare  with  the  natives, 
and  which,  when  improved  as  they  had  improved  them,  at 
length  made  these  princely  brothers,  doubtless  the  two  most 
intelligent,  as  well  as  naturally  talented  young  red  men  tlien 
to  be  found  on  the  American  continent.  And  there  is  no  rea 
son  to  believe  that,  had  they  and  their  people  continued  to 
experience  the  same  respect  and  good  treatment  they  h;id  all 
received  during  the  life  time  of  Massasoit,  the  chain  of  their 
mutual  friendship  would  never  have  been  made  dim  by  hostile 
blood.  But  a  change  had  been  gradually  coming  over  the 
colonists.  They  had  become  comparatively  strong  and  pow 
erful,  and  with  the  increase  of  their  strength  and  power,  their 
deference  to  the  red  men  and  disposition  to  treat  them  as 
equals,  either  in  trade  or  treaty,  seemed  strangely  to  undergo 
a  proportionate  decrease.  All  this  Alexander  and  Philip  were 
not  slow  to  perceive,  and  it  soon  so  far  operated  on  them  as  to 
keep  them  aloof  from  the  court  of  Plymouth.  And  it  was  the 
insultino  and  arbitrary  attempt  to  compel  their  attendance  and 
required  subserviency,  which  so  mysteriously  resulted  in  the 
untimely  death  of  Alexander,  who,  being  the  eldest,  had  suc 
ceeded  to  the  throne,  nnd  preluded  that  series  of  wrongs  and  in 
dignities  on  his  successor,  Philip,  that  finally  led  to  the  bloody 
drama  which  is  the  grounu-work  of  our  eventful  story. 


THE   PROCESSION.  25 


CHAPTER   II. 

"  The  wind  of  the  bigot  is  like  the  pupil  of  the  eye,   fce  more  you  pour 
light  upon  it,  the  more  it  contracts." — DR.  HULMES. 

AFTER  a  Ions:  and  anxious  suspense,  the  company  around 
the  Meeting-House  were  again  aroused  by  the  renewed  ringing 
of  the  bell  and  the  bearing  of  the  distant  drum,  this  time  peal 
ing  out  and  rattling  so  loud  and  intertnittingly,  that  all  felt  there 
was  now  little  danger  of  another  disappointment.  And  in  a  few 
minutes,  as  they  had  anticipated,  the  head  of  the  procession 
consisting  of  the  embodiment  of  Church  and  State,  with 
their  proposed  Indian  victims,  jurors,  witnesses,  and  others, 
hove  in'  sight.  Preceded  by  the  Sheriff  on  a  black  horse, 
and  a  drummer  and  fife,  came  the  Governor  and  his  Secretary, 
walking  side  by  side,  next  his  assistants,  who  were  to  act  as 
civil  magistrates,  and  then  the  minister  and  elder  of  the  Church, 
who  were  to  make  up  the  Ecclesiastic  part  of  the  court,  formed 
after  the  fashion  of  the  timesfrr  the  trial  of  all  important  cases. 
And  next  to  these  came  the  jurors  and  witnesses  headed  by  a 
constable,  and  then  the  three  Indian  prisoners,  in  their  scanty 
native  garbs  dejectedly,  but  firmly  walking  in  Indian  file,  and 
enclosed  before,  behind,  and  on  each  side,  in  the  hollow  square 
of  their  well  armed  military  guard.  Immediately  after  these 
la>t.  came  waddling  along,  with  an  air  of  mingled  meekness  and 
wisdom,  the  thick-set,  mealy,  rough-visaged,  and  pig-eyed 
Deacon  Mudgridge,  the  important  personage,  who  has  already 
been  once  or  twice  alluded  to,  and  who  was  the  volunteer  man 
ager  of  the  forth-coming  trial,  on  the  part  of  the  prosecution. 
By  his  side  strode  the  long,  never  failing  Shadow,  who;  as  the 


26  THE   DOOMED    CHIEF. 

minister  was  to  sit  on  the  trial,  had  been,  on  account  of  his  gifts 
for  prayer  and  impromptu,  selected  as  a  sort  of  Chaplain  on 
the  occasion.  And  last  of  all,  followed  a  long  line  of  citizens, 
summoned  into  the  ranks,  to  swell  the  retinue  and  give  it  the 
most  imposing  effect. 

This  was  a  political  or  state  trial,  or  at  least  made  such  by 
its  assumed  connection  with  the  public  question,  by  which 
the  community,  as  before  stated,  were,  at  this  time,  peculiarly 
agitated,  and  it  was  expected  by  all,  therefore,  that  it  would 
be  conducted  with  considerable  ceremony.  But  the  author 
ities,  not  content  with  the  usual  ceremonies  of  such  occasions, 
had  been  at  very  extraordinary  pains  to  have  all  the  proceed 
ings  of  this  trial  marked  throughout,  with  unusual  parade  and 
great  show  of  stern  solemnity;  for  one  of  the  principal  objects 
they  had  in  view,  in  instituting  the  measure,  was  to  strike  a 
dread  upon  the  natives,  and  overawe  their  proud  chief,  the 
feared  and  hated  Metacom  of  Montaup.*  The  whole  affair 
therefore,  from  the  first — the  marching  of  the  procession, 
the  entrance  into  the  Meeting  House,  the  place  appointed 
for  the  trial,  as  the  one  most  likely  to  be  attended  by  Indian 
spectators,  and  the  seating  of  the  authorities,  with  all  others, 
had  been  conducted  with  all  possible  pomp,  and  was  thus 
made  to  resemble,  in  appeara^e,  some  military  trial  and 
execution,  rather  than  the  quiet  proceedings  of  a  court  of 
justice,  exercising  only  the  functions  of  civil  authority.  And 
thus  nearly  an  hour  was  spent  in  the  march  of  an  hundred 
rods,  and  in  arranging  matters  for  the  opening  of  the  court. 
At  length,  however,  all  this  had  been  accomplished,  to  the 
apparent  satisfaction  of  those  in  control,  every  thing  had  be 
come  settled  down  into  quiet  in  the  Meeting  House,  and  the 
anxious  audience  sat  with  keenly  expectant  looks,  awaiting 
the  commencement  of  the  important  business  of  the  day. 

*  The  original  Indian  name,  soon  corrupted  by  the  whites  to  Mount 
Hope. 


EOGER    WILLIAMS.  27 

At  this  juncture,  the  attention  of  the  audience  was  at 
tracted  by  the  quiet  entrance  of  an  elderly  gentleman,  whose 
unobtrusive,  yet  firm  and  free  deportment,  intelligent  look, 
and  native  dignity  of  manner,  seemed  at  once  to  impress  all 
classes  of  the  mingled  assemblage,  as  their  enquiring  gaze 
was  turned  towards  him,  with  the  involuntary  feeling  that 
they  were  favored  with  the  presence  of  more  than  an  ordinary 
man.  Notwithstanding  the  snows  of  the  seventy  winters  that 
had  thickly  powdered  his  high  and  noble  head,  and  converted 
his  once  raven  locks  into-the  silver  wreath  that  now  entwined 
itself  around  his  thin,  rectilinear  features  and  strikingly 
intellectual  countenance,  his  step  was  firm  and  elastic  ;  arid 
little  or  nothing  could  be  detected  in  his  general  appearance 
indicating  any  abatement  of  physical  vigor.  With  a  com 
posed,  self-possessed  air,  and  an  occasional  quick,  sharp 
glance  around  him,  he  advanced  directly  towards  the  platform 
on  which  the  civil  and  church  dignitaries  had  become  seated. 
with  the  jury,  prisoners,  guards,  and.  officers  arranged  below 
and  along  in  front  of  them.  Though  evidently  a  stranger  to 
most  of  the  audience,  he  yet  seemed  soon  to  be  recognized, 
and  that,  too,  with  manifestations  of  displeasure,  by  several 
of  the  older  part  of  the  assembly;  and  quickly  the  name  arid 
epithets,  Old  Roger  Williams!  Williams,  tJie  Immhed 
heretic  !  and  the  lialf  Quaker,  half  injidd  Royer  Wi/liams  ! 
was  audibly  whispered  and  buzzed  from  mouth  to  mouth, 
among  the  now  continuing  crowd.  But  without  appearing  to 
hear  or  notice  these  irreverent  and  unfriendly  demonstrations, 
he  proceeded  deliberately  along  the  aisle,  until  he  reached  the 
further  end  of  the  bench  on  which  the  Indian  prisoners  were 
seated,  where  he  paused,  and  made  some  slight  motion  to 
attract  their  attention.  They  looked  up,  and  while  the 
twinkle  of  a  smile  lighted  up,  for  the  instant,  their  gloomy, 
saturnine  visages,  they  simultaneously  uttered  u  low,  guttural 
exclamation  of  gratified  feeling. 


28  THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

Williams,  for  the  stranger  was  indeed  no  other  than  the 
persecuted  and  banished  man,  who  was  thereafter  to  become 
known  as  the  first  great  champion  of  religious  liberty  in 
America,  and  who  had  now  volunteeued  to  come  from  his  new 
hcme  and  freshly  planted  colony  at  Providence,  to  defend 
those  from  whose  hospitable  tribe  he  had  once  received  pro 
tection  and  friendship.  Williams  then  turned,  firmly  con 
fronted  the  court,  and  stood  silent,  as  if  waiting  to  hear  what 
they  might  have  to  say  at  his  appearance  before  them. 

"  What  may  be  your  desire,  sir?'"'  at  length,  coldly  asked 
the  stern  and  severe  looking  Governor  Winslow,  affecting  to 
have  forgotten  the  other,  or  being  unwilling  to  speak  his 
name.  "  Have  you  some  favor  to  crave  at  the  hands  of  the 
court  ?" 

"  Nay,  your  Excellency,"  replied  Williams,  in  a  deep,  firm, 
and  musical  voice.  "  Nay,  not  a  favor;  yet  I  deemed  it  but 
proper,  with  a  fitting  opportunity  of  speech,  to  apprise  the 
court  that  I  appear  here  before  them  as  the  friend  and 
counsel  of  these  prisoners  ;  not  to  defeat  the  ends  of  justice, 
but  only  to  guard  against  its  perversion  to  the  detriment  of 
their  rights,  as  well  as  of  the  safety  and  good  name  of  your 
colony." 

A  frown  was  seen  instantly  to  gather  on  the  warty  visaire 
of  Deacon  Mudgridge,  at  the  remarks,  and  a  fidgety  movement 
seemed  to  agitate  the  whole  of  his  fat,  dumpy  person,  as, 
alternately  glancing  at  the  speaker  and  the  court,  he  did  his 
best  to  look  his  aversion  to  the  man,  and  his  objections  to  the 
part  he  had  proposed  to  act  in  the  trial. 

"  Do  you  wish,"  resumed  the  governor,  after  a  hesitating 
pause,  "  do  you  wish  me,  sir,  to  put  it  to  vote  with  the 
court,  whether  you  shall  be  admitted  as  counsel  of  the 
prisoners  ?" 

"  Nay  ;  again  1  have  to  say.  nay,  your  Excellency," 
calmly  responded  the  other.  "  The  constitution  and  laws  of 


WILLIAMS    ADMITTED    AS    COUNSEL.  29 

England,  and  of  this  colony,  of  course,  have  always  guaran 
teed,  even  to  the  worst  of  criminals,  the  right  of  being  heai  J 
by  counsel,  and  I  will  not  so  far  question  the  intelligence  and 
impartiality  of  this  court,  as  to  intimate  any  necessity  of 
asking  such  a  thing  of  them.  I  only  wait  for  the  trial  to  pro 
ceed/' 

After  a  short,  whispered  consultation  among  the  grave 
personages  of  the  court,  which  seemed  to  result  in  some  per 
plexity  and  difference  of  opinion,  respecting  the  admission  of 
Williams  to  act  in  the  capacity  claimed  by  him,  the  governor, 
as  the  presiding  judge,  with  much  the  air  of  one  who  finds 
himself  compelled  to  tolerate  some  nuisance  which  he  lacks 
the  power  to  abate,  at  last  turned  to  Deacon  iMudirridge,  and 
suggested  that,  on  the  whole,  it  were  better  perhaps  to  let  the 
matter  pass  as  it. was,  and  proceed  with  the  trial. 

The  Shadow,  or  Dummer,  the  deacon  candidate,  being  then 
called  on  for  the  purpose,  made  a  long,  loud  and  zealous 
prayer,  beginning  with  the  fall  of  Adam,  following  the  history 
of  the  Church  to  the  time  when  God's  chosen  Israel,  in  the 
persons  of  the  Plymouth  colonists,  began  to  antagonize  with 
the  accursed  Canaanites  of  the  Americvjn  forests,  and  ending 
with  praying  every  heathen  savage  out  of  the  land,  and  King 
Philip  to  an  especial  perdition. 

When  this  introductory  performance  was  at  length  brought 
to  a  close  and  the  audience  became  composed,  Deacon  Mud- 
gridge  slowly  rose  from  the  conspicuous  seat  he  had  taken  on 
the  right,  but  a  little  in  front  of  the  court,  and.  with  an  air 
of  exceeding  solemnity,  and  a  countenance  big  with  the  con 
scious  importance  of  the  trust  devolving  on  him  in  the  double 
capacity  of  chosen  captain  of  the  church  militant  of  the 
colony,  and  the  champion  of  its  civil  authority,  began,  by  way 
of  a  preliminary  speech  for  suitably  impressing  the  court,  jury, 
and  all  others  with  the  right  frame  of  mind  before  entering 
on  their  duties,  to  dilate  on  the  very  great  importance  of  the 


SO  THE    DOOMED    CHIEF. 

case  winch  had  now  come  up  for  the  solemn  and  prayerful 
consideration  of  the  court  and  jury.  Tins  tri;il  would  involve, 
he  believed,  a  most  momentous  crisis  to  God's  favored  people, 
•whom  he  had  planted  with  his  own  riirht  hand  in  this  wilder 
ness  country,  wherein  to  erect  his  tabernacles,  convert  or 
drive  out  the  idolatrous  heathen,  and  make  it  a  vineyard  for 
his  elected  heritage.  And  he  could  not  forbear,  he  said,  to 
warn  the  court  and  jury,  in  advance,  against  the  great  danger 
of  falling  into  the  fatal  error  of  Saul,  and  also  that  of  Ac-ban, 
the  weak  follower  of  Joshua,  who  brought  sore  judgments  on 
Israel  by  sparing  some  of  the  enemy,  and  being  seduced  by 
the  love  of  spoils,  (to  which  our  desire  to  gain  the  traffic  of 
the  Indians  might  be  likened,)  and  so  fear  to  tnke  decided 
steps  against  the  heathen  prisoners ;  when  the  righteous 
example  of  Samuel,  who  hewed  the  wicked  Agag  to  pieces, 
and  moreover  that  of  Joshua,  who  ordered  the  stoning  to 
death  of  the  disobedient  Achan — when  these  wholesome  ex 
amples  were  still  standing  as  beacon  lights,  whereby  to  avoid 
incurring  the  guilt  of  any  like  offences. 

He  then  read  the  indictment,  setting  forth,  in  substance, 
that  the  prisoners,  one  Tobias,  a  leading  man  of  the  Wampa- 
noogs,  and  called  by  them  Poggapanosso,  one  \Vampaquun, 
son  of  said  Tobias,  and  one  other  Indian,  instigated  by  the 
devil  and  King  Philip,  did,  on  a  certain  day  of  March  pre 
ceding,  waylay,  murder,  and  conceal  in  a  hole  cut  through  the 
ice  on  the  great  pond  bordering  said  King  Philip's  territory, 
one  John  Sassamon,  a  praying  Indian,  with  malice  prepense, 
and  to  the  great  displeasure  of  Heaven. 

The  deacon  next  read  over  his  list  of  witnesses,  whom  he 
divided  into  two  classes:  one  to  show  what  he  termed  the 
necessary  circumstantial  matters  bearing  on  the  case,  and  the 
other  to  give  direct  evidence  of  the  murder.  The  first  class 
consisted  of  the  more  intimate  white  acquaintances  of  Sassa- 
mon,  and  the  last  of  two  Indians,  Dick  Swain,  and  the  zealot. 


THE    TESTIMONY.  b 

Bummer.  The  witnesses  embraced  in  the  first  division  being 
then  brought  on  to  the  stand  and  sworn,  proceeded  to  give  in 
their  testimony,  the  aggregate  amount  of  which  was  that  the 
deceased  Sassamon,  formerly  a  Wanipanoog,  had  been  re 
claimed,  in  the  first  place,  from  the  devilish  influences  of  his 
idolatrous  tribe,  became  a  praying  Indian,  and  afterwards 
showed  himself  so  apt  at  learning  as  soon  to  be  able  to  read 
and  write  quite  readily.  But,  after  living  several  years  with 
the  whites,  and  receiving  many  favors  from  them,  he  suddenly 
disappeared,  and  was  next  heard  of  among  his  tribe,  by  whom 
he  was  again  taken  into  full  fellowship,  and  among  whom  he 
turned  his  knowledge  and  cunning  to  so  good  an  account,  that 
he  soon  was  promoted  to  the  post  of  confidential  secretary  to 
King  Philip.  This  place  he  held  many  years,  and  until  he 
appeared  to  have  completely  gained  the  confidence  of  Philip 
and  his  councillors;  when,  having  committed  some  crime 
which  by  their  laws  was  punishable  with  death,  he  fled  for  his 
life,  and  came  back  once  more  among  his  old  white  Christian 
brethren,  who,  moved  by  his  loud  lamentations  for  his  late 
apostasy,  and  his  earnest  professions  of  renewed  religious 
exoeriences,  again  received  him  into  favor,  and  sent  him  to 
teach  and  preach  among  the  praying  Indians  of  Middleboro'. 
But,  not  content  here  with  the  exercise  of  his  new  callinir, 
nor  with  the  peaceable  occupation  of  the  land  and  house  which 
his  white  friends  had  purchased  for  him,  he  at  once  be^an  to 
play  the  spy  on  the  movements  of  his  old  master,  King 
Philip,  when  he  soon  appeared  to  become  so  burdened  with 
the  discoveries  he  pretended  to  have  made  of  that  chief's 
secret  designs  against  the  colonists,  that  he  could  rest  no 
longer.  He  therefore  repaired  to  Plymouth,  sought  a  private 
interview  with  the  governor,  and,  under  the  injunction  of  the 
strictest  secrecy,  made  the  startling  disclosure  that  King  Philip 
was  actively  preparing  for  a  war  of  extermination  against  the 
colony — a  fact  which  he  pretended  to  have  at  first  learned 


I 

THE    DOOMED    CHIEF. 


when  he  wns  the  chief's  secretary,  and  which  was  fully  con 
firmed  by  his  recent  discoveries.  Having  made  these  revela 
tions,  he  again  earnestly  besought  the  governor  not  to  let  his 
secret  go  beyond  himself  and  council ;  for  should  a  knowJedjje 
of  the  disclosure  reach  the  ears  of  Metacom,  his  life  would  be 
sure  to  pay  the  forfeit.  But  it  was  not  to  be  supposed  that  so 
alarming  a  secret  could  long  be  confined  to  the  court.  It 
soon  passed  from  the  governor  and  his  consulting  friends,  and 
spread,  with  the  rapidity  of  the  wind,  over  the  whole  colony, 
and  in  a  few  weeks  the  luckless  Sassamon  was  suddenly 
missing. 

This  part,  of  the  testimony  having  been  at  length  brought 
to  a  close,  the  other  class  of  witnesses,  relied  on  for  the 
direct  testimony,  were  then  called  on  to  the  stand.  And  the 
Indian  who  went  by  the  name  of  David,  among  the  whites, 
and  who  was  announced  by  Deacon  Mudgridge,  as  a  the  faith 
ful  Christian  friend  of  the  late  lamented  Sassamon,  and  the 
first  discoverer  of  this  hell  invented  murder,"  was  now  di 
rected  to  stand  forward  and  relate  the  particulars  of  what 
was  understood  to  be  his  story  about  the  affair.  Accordingly 
David,  a  small,  demure,  peaceful  looking  Indian,  then  moved 
himself  along  a  little,  and  quietly  proceeded  : 

"  Find  Sassamon  gone,  one  day,  and  no  comeback.  Much 
'fraid  him  must  be  killed  ;  so  go  look  all  round, in  the  woods; 
but  no  find  him  nowhere.  Then  go  on  Assawompset,  big 
pond.  Little  way,  see  hat  on  the  ice.  Go  there,  find  him 
Sassamon  hat.  See  hole  in  the  ice,  get  pole,  feel  him  soon, 
and  bring  him  up,  pull  him  out,  find  where  club  strike  him 
head  Then  go  fetch  white  men,  tell  'em  Sassamon  killed. 
They  no  believe,  say  him  drown  himself,  and  carry  him  off 
and  bury  him.  Then  me  go  and  tell  governor  Sassamon 
killed,  sartin.  Governor  look  like  believe  some,  order  Sassa- 
nx.n  dig  up.  Me  there,  show  them,  more  time  again,  where 
club  strike  Sabsumou  head.  They  believe  this  time,  think 


EXAMINING   WITNESSES,  83 

Indian  tell  right,  and  say  Philip  men  did  it,  sartin,  'cause 
Sassamon  break  Indian  law.  Me  know  Sassamon  Traid  him 
be  killed,  long  time.  But  me  no  tell,  me  no  know  who  did 
it,  'causv»  me  no  see  it.  Can't  tell  lie — that  make  him  bad 
Indian.  Good  book  say  God  roast  urn  liars/' 

All  present  being  convinced  that  David  had  testified  hon 
estly.  n.>  questions  were  asked  him  on  either  side;  and  Pa- 
tuckson,  the  other  Indian  witness,  who  was  the  only  person 
pretending  to  have  seen  the  deed  committed,  was  then  called 
on  to  testify.  He  was  evidently  an  Indian  of  a  very  different 
character  from  that  of  David,  being  bolder,  more  forward,  and 
exhibiting,  both  in  countenance  and  manner,  many  indica 
tions  of  cunning  and  calculation.  He  commenced  like  one 
ready  for  his  part,  and  glibly  went  on — 

"  Hoh  !  me  know  all  about  Tobias  and  this  two  tother  In 
dian  kill  Sassamon.  Me  go  among  Indians  self,  and  find  out. 
Metacom  come  home  from  long  journey,  hear  how  Sassamou 
been  spying  round  there,  and  then  hear  how  he  tell  governor 
bad  story.  He  no  like  it,  and  tell  him  warrior  Sassamon 
traitor,  dog-spy ;  come  round  there  to  carry  lie  to  white  men. 
Metacom  much  mad,  say  him  sorry  Sassamon  not  killed  for 
that  tother  thing,  'fore  him  run  away  ;  and  so  he  call  meeting 
of  old  men,  at  Montaup.  Meeting  all  say  Sassamon  die  this 
time  ;  catch  him,  kill  him.  Tobias  there,  talk  loud,  say  all 
good  Indian  watch  him,  kill  him  always.  Me  go  off,  watch 
too,  for  see  what  done.  So,  one  day  on  hill  near  big  pond, 
see  Sassamon  go  across  ice,  and  three  Indians  coming.  Hide 
an  i  soon  see  Tobias  and  this  two  tother  Indian  run  fast,  catch 
Sassamon,  strike  club  hard,  kill  him;  then  cut  hole  in  ice, 
put  him  in,  then  run  away  quick.  Me  no  tell  then ;  but 
when  white  men  dig  up  Sassamon  me  tell  all ;  show  'em 
where  Tobias  and  this  two  tother  Indian  had  camp,  catch  fish 
on  tother  end  great  pond  ;  so  they  go,  catch  'em  all." 

Deacon  Mudgridge  then,  with  the  view  of  placing  the  tes* 
3 


84  THE    DOOMED   CHIEF. 

timony  of  the  witness  in  the  strongest  light  possible,  asked 
sundry  leading  questions,  which  were  so  worded  as  to  elicit 
positive  assertions  of  what  were  before  left  as  matters  of  infer 
ence,  and  which  were  answered  as  he  had  anticipated  and 
wished;  the  court  taking  no  notice  of  this  violation  of  the 
rules  of  conducting  an  examination,  and  no  objection  to  the 
course  being  interposed  by  Williams,  who,  from  some  policy 
of  his  own,  kept  silence.  The  latter,  however,  evidently  dis 
trusted  the  truth  and  honesty  of  the  witness,  and  resolved  on 
subjecting  him  to  a  close  cross-examination.  And  in  this  he 
was  soon  to  be  materially  aided  from  an  unexpected  quarter. 
Vane  Willis,  who  knew  something  of  the  witness,  and  was 
perfectly  familiar  with  the  localities  of  the  murder,  now 
worked  himself  along  through  the  crowd,  took  a  seat  directly 
behind  Williams,  and  whispered  to  him  a  few  suggestions,  of 
which  he  might  take  advantage. 

"  You  say,  sir,"  carelessly  commenced  Williams,  address 
ing  the  witness,  of  whom,  he  told  the  court,  he  would  ask  a 
few  questions  by  way  of  his  privileged  cross-examination  — 
"  You  say  you  saw  Tobias  coming  over  the  ice,  and  I  suppose 
Tobias  saw  you,  at  the  same  time,  didn't  he  ?" 

"  Can't  no  tell,"  replied  the  witness,  looking  inquiringly  to 
Deacon  Mudgridge,  who,  suspecting  the  question  was  put  to 
bring  out  an  affirmative  answer,  which  was  to  be  used  as  some 
trap,  soon  succeeded  by  his  looks  and  motions  in  making  the 
former  understand  that  he  must  ansAver  in  the  negative. 

(t  Can't  you  tell  ?  don't  you  know  he  saw  you  ?"  again 
asked  Williams  rather  sternly. 

"  No;  me  don't  know  that — me  think  he  no  see  me — me 
know  he  no  see  me  at  all,"  answered  the  witness,  fast  growing 
confident. 

"  How,"  persisted  the  former — "  how  do  you  know  but 
what  Tobias  saw  you  ?" 

"  Know  Tobias  no  see  me,"  now  positively  affirmed  the  lat- 


WITNESS    CAUGHT.  35 

ter,  impatiently;  "me  know  him   couldn't,  'cause  me  hid  a 
great  way  off  on  the  hill." 

"  Oh,  not  a  great  way  I  suspect,"  returned  Williams.  "  But 
really,  how  far  was  it  ?" 

"  Can't  tell,"  replied  the  witness  j  "  but  great  way — as  far 
as  here  to  where  governor  house  be." 

"  That,  to  be  sure,  is  over  a  quarter  of  a  mile,"  said  the 
questioner.  "  But  then  Tobias  and  the  others  when  you  saw 
them  were  sometimes  close  to  the  shore,  were  they  not ?" 

a  No  !"  exclaimed  the  witness,  "  him  great  way  out  on  the 
pond — more  further  from  the  shore  than  me  back  on  the 
hill." 

"  That,"  now  remarked  Williams,  glancing  at  the  court, 
"would  make  the  distance  from  the  witness  to  the  nearest  point 
at  which  he  swears  he  saw  the  prisoner  under  examination, 
over  half  a  mile,  and,  as  he  says  Sassamon  ran  some  distance 
before  he  was  overtaken,  the  distance  to  the  spot  where  the 
deed  was  alleged  to  have  been  done,  could  not  have  been  less 
than  three  quarters  of  a  mile.  And  yet  he  positively  swears 
not  only  to  the  commission  of  the  murder  but  to  the  identity 
of  the  perpetrator  !  Enough  of  such  a  witness  as  that !  I 
have  done  with  him." 

For  the  first  time,  both  the  witness  and  the  prompting 
Deacon  now  saw  the  object  of  Williams'  well  managed  man 
euver  to  draw  from  the  former  the  admission  of  the  truth  that 
he  was  at  too  great  a  distance  from  the  scene  to  be  able  to 
swear  safely  to  any  thing.  And  the  Deacon,  seeing  at  once 
that  it  would  not  do  to  leave  the  testimony  in  this  shape, 
leaped  up  and  vehemently  protested  against  the  use  of  the 
cunning  arts  and  devices  of  the  godless  lawyers  of  the  secular 
and  unsanctified  courts,  which  his  opponent  had  probably 
learned  in  the  old  world,  where  he  learned  his  other  heresies, 
and  which  he  had  now  brought  here,  and  put  in  practice  to 
confuse  and  lead  astray  a  simple  minded  native;  arid  a  truthful, 


36  THE    DOOMKD    CHIKF. 

honest  witness  as  there  was  in  the  world.  And  then  turning 
to  the  witness,  he  sternly  demanded  of  him,  it'  he  did  not  mean 
to  swear  positively  that  lie  clearly  saw  the  murder  committed, 
and  that  he  knew  it  was  Tobias,  and  the  other  prisoners,  who 
did  it/ 

"  Ya-ya-yas — me  know — me  swear,"  responded  the  witness, 
at  first  hesitating,  but  soon  evidently  becoming  alarmed  for  his 
own  personal  interests  from  what  he  read  in  the  looks  of  the 
Deacon — (i  yas,  me  swear — me  swear  hard — me  swear  two 
times,  again  !  There  !  guess  me  get  pay  now,  sartin." 

"Pay?"  exclaimed  Williams  significantly.  "  Then  he  was 
to  be  paid  for  swearing  in  a  particular  manner,  and  to  have 
no  pay  without  so  doing,  was  he?  The  court  and  jury  will 
please  remember  this." 

"  Wo  unto  him  that  perverteth  testimony  !"  cried  the  visibly 
disturbed  Deacon  in  what  he  intended  should  pass  for  a  scrip 
tural  denunciation  of  his  opponent.  "  But,  peradventure,  it  is 
no  wonder  that  one  who  deserted  the  true  church  for  damnable 
heresies  should  resort  to  such  means  to  shield  the  heathen, 
with  whom  he  has  so  long  consorted.  No  doubt  he  hopes  to 
make  out  the  identity  of  the  prisoners  to  be  a  doubtful  mat 
ter.  But  he  will  not  prevail.  T/be  expectation  of  (he  wicked 
shall  perish.  I  will  now  introduce  evidence,  which,  coining, 
as  I  may  say  it  does,  directly  from  the  ordering  of  Providence 
for  the  detection  of  the  guilty,  he  will  hardly  dare  to  impeach. 
Brother  Dummer,  will  you  step  forward  and  state  what  you 
saw,  with  your  own  eyes,  at  the  time  Sassamon's  body  was 
exhumed  for  examination,  and  the  prisoner,  Tobias,  was 
brought  in  to  undergo  the  test  then  and  there  prescribed  for 
him  ?" 

"I  did  verily,"  said  the  Shadow,  throwing  his  eyes  around 
and  upward  with  an  air  of  peculiar  reverence  and  solemnity — 
tl  I  did  verily  witness,  on  that  solemn  occasion,  a  very  great 
marvel,  touching  the  matter  whereof  I  am  now  called  to  testify. 


ORDEAL   OP  BLOOD.  37 

And  I  do  affirm  and  say,  that,  when  this  child  of  Sathan,  the 
prisoner  Tobias  here,  was  brought  in  where  the  dead  body  lay, 
to  undergo  the  ordeal  of  confronting  and  touching  it  with  his 
bare  hand,  he  was  forthwith  smitten  with  the  fear  and  trem 
bling  of  conscious  guilt,  and  could  hardly  be  got  near  the 
body,  much  less  he  persuaded  to  touch  any  part  of  it.  Where 
upon,  the  young  man,  Richard  Swain,  then  and  there  also 
present,  being  moved  thereto  with  the  rest  of  us,  but  more 
prompt  unto  the  duty  of  seeing  the  ordeal  perfected,  speedily 
seized  the  forefinger  of  the  prisoner,  and  thrust  it  on  to  the 
naked  body  ;  when,  lo  !  the  mysterious  and  God-ordered  result! 
Fresh  blood,  which  had  started  out  at  the  touch  of  the  guilty 
member,  was  plainly  seen  standing  on  the  place  of  contact  !"* 

The  now  exulting  Deacon  next  called  Dick  Swain,  but,  at 
the  same  time,  remarked  that  he  wished  merely  to  ask  him 
whether  he  agreed  with  the  last  witness  and  could  confirm  his 
statement. 

<l  0,  yes,  be  sure ;  I  saw  the  same  blood  he  did,"  somewhat 
hurriedly  responded  Dick,  rising,  but  manifesting  no  inclina 
tion  to  go  into  particulars. 

"  Very  well,  that  is  all,"  said  the  Deacon  motioning  the 
other  back  to  his  seat. 

"  Not  quite  all,"  interposed  Williams,  again  acting  on  the 
whispered  suggestions  of  the  shrewd  prompter  behind  him. 
"  Were  you  sent  by  any  one  to  be  present  at  the  examination 
in  question  ?" 

"  Sent  ? — no,  not  in  particular,  as  I  know  of,"  answered 
Dick,  glancing  around  doubtfully. 

"  Well,  sir,  did  you  not  go  wholly  for  the  purpose  of  wit 
nessing  the  examination  ?" 

"  I  may  sny  not — that  is,  not  wholly  so  ;  but  hearing  about 
it,  and  feeling  some  curiosity  about  the  matter,  I  thought  I 

*  See  Cotton  Mather  and  other  early  historians  for  the  fact  here  testified 
to. 


88  THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

would  skirt  the  woods  along  in  that  direction,  with  my  firm, 
on  the  look-out  for  game,  and  stop  there  to  see  what  was 
going  on." 

"  Did  you  kill  anything  ?" 

"  No,  nothing  of  any  account;  merely  one  gray  squirrel." 

"  Did  you  kill  the  squirrel  with  shot,  or  with  a  bullet?" 

"  With  a  bullet.  I  generally  go  into  the  woods  with  my 
gun  loaded  with  a  bullet,  these  days,  as  there  are  murderous 
Indians  about." 

"  Yes,  but  what  part  of  the  squirrel  did  the  bullet  strike  ?" 

"•  Well,  it  went  right  through  his  throat,  seeing  you  are  so 
particular  to  know." 

"  It  was  a  long  time,  wasn't  it,  after  you  shot  the  animal 
before  you  reached  the  place  where  they  were  examining  the 
body  ?" 

"  No  it  wasn't  any  such  thing,  sir,"  replied  Dick,  with  an 
air  that  seemed  to  say,  '  you  can't  catch  me  in  it  that  way.1 
"  It  wasn't  twenty  minutes." 

"  Oh,  well,  but  you  had  the  squirrel  in  your  hand  when  you 
took  hold  of  the  prisoner's  finger  and  thrust  it  upon  the  dead 
body  ?" 

"No,  sir,  I  did  not;  I  "know  I  did  not,  fcfr  I  had  just 
hurled  the  animal  into  the  corner  of  the  room  where  I  had 
set  up  my  gun." 

"  Well,  you  said  you  saw  the  blood  on  the  spot  which  was 
touched  by  the  prisoner's  finger  ?" 

"  Yes,  I  did,  and  will  still  swear  to  it.  I  saw  it  as  soon  as 
his  hand  was  taken  away,  same  as  all  the  rest  did.  I  know 
there  was  blood  there." 

"  1  don't  dispute  at  all,  that  a  bloody  mark  then  became 
visible  there  ;  but,"  continued  the  speaker,  suddenly  turning 
a  stern  gaze  upon  the  face  of  tholquailing  witness,  while  he 
raised  his  voice  to  a  pitch  of  startling  loudness,  "  but,  Richard 
Swain,  tell  me,  before  God,  who  put  that  blood  there  ?  Who, 


WILLIAMS    INTERRUPTED    BY    MUDGRIDGE.  39 

eir,  while  his  right  hand  was  bearing  the  reluctant  finger  of 
the  prisoner  to  the  dead  body  ?  'Who  drew  the  fingers  of  his 
left  hand,  first  purposely  made  bloody  in  the  fresh  wound  of 
his  game,  slyly  over  the  spot  of  the  coming  contact?  Ay,  sir, 
-ttho  put  that  blood  there  with  the  sole  object  of  making 
evidence  against  this  poor  Indian  prisoner  ?" 

"  Blasphemy  !  rank  blasphemy  \"  cried  the  enraged 
Deacon.  "  He  is  trying  to  turn  the  miraculous  intervention 
of  God  for  the  detecting  of  an  awful  crime  into  mockery ! 
Are  the  sanctified  Elders  of  the  Church  of  Christ,  who  have 
vowed  to  guard  his  authority  against  reproach,  and  our  civil 
rulers  who  bear  not  the  sword  in  vain,  to  sit  here  and  listen 
to  all  this  ?  For  one,  I  do  protest  against  such  doings.  The 
witness  swore  distinctly  to  the  seeing  the  blood  follow  in  con 
sequence  of  the  touch.  So  did  brother  Dummer,  whose  word 
none  can  question.  This  is  enough;  and  I  do  most  earnestly 
object  to  this,  or  any  other  witness  answering  such  entangling, 
hell-devised  questions,  put  to  defeat  the  ends  of  heaven's  own 
justice.  Yea,  as  I  said,  the  evidence  is  abundantly  enough 
to  ensure  a  conviction  ;  but  lest  my  opponent  should  claim 
anything  savoring  doubt,  or  the  weakening  of  the  testimony 
of  the  last  witness  by  means  of  his  ungodly  arts,  I  will  call 
others  who  were  present  on  that  remarkable  occasion  of  the 
visible  doings  of  Providence,  and  see  what  they  will  say." 

So  saying,  the  Deacon,  to  prevent  Williams  from  pressing 
his  last  questions  further  on  the  discomfited  Dick,  hurriedly 
called  on  two  more  witnesses  of  the  Dummer  stamp,  who,  as 
might  be  expected,  unhesitatingly  swore  to  the  same  thing; 
when,  with  an  air  of  defiant  exultation,  he  announced  to  the 
court  that  he  was  through  with  the  testimony,  and  that  the 

e  was  ready  for  argument. 

There  was  now  by  common,  tacit  consent,  a  short  pause  in 
the  proceedings,  which  was  made  use  of  by  the  assembly,  as 
usual  among  congregated  bodies  after  a  tedious  sitting,  in 


40  THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

shifting  positions,  rising  and  moving  from  one  place  to  another, 
or  passing  in  and  out  the  house.  This  naturally  produced  suf 
ficient  bustle  and  confusion  to  afford  the  active  friends  of  the 
prosecution  an  opportunity  for  wire  pulling,  which  they  were 
not  slow  to  improve.  The  Deacon  was  seen  conversing  earn 
estly  with  the  different  members  of  the  court,  whom  he  suc 
cessively  beckoned  aside  for  the  purpose.  The  Shadow  evi 
dently  had  considerable  business  along  the  seats  occupied  by 
the  white  jurymen  ;  while  Dick  Swain,  on  pretense  of  hunting 
for  some  lost  article,  might  have  been  seen  hustling  about 
among  the  Indian  jurors,  and  slyly  passing  something  much 
resembling  small  bottles  under  their  blankets.  The  au 
dience  however  soon  settled  down  into  their  former  quiet 
ness  and  listening  attitudes ;  when  the  Governor  intimated  to 
the  Deacon,  that  he  was  now  expected  to  commence  the  open 
ing  argument. 

u  Man  is  weak,  and  full  of  short-comings.  Strength  and 
wisdom  are  of  the  Lord.  Let  us  invoke  the  Divine  blessing/' 
said  the  Deacon,  suddenly  throwing  up  his  hands,  and  entering, 
with  peculiar  unction,  upon  a  prayer  especially  devised  for  the 
occasion.  After  concluding  his  prayer,  or  rather  his  set  of  in 
structions  to  the  Almighty  how  to  influence  the  mind  of  the  court 
and  jury,  and  how  to  order  the  result  of  their  deliberations,  all 
disguised  in  the  form  of  prayer,  he  cleared  his  throat  anew,  and 
commenced  his  great  and  long  studied  effort.  But  having  al 
ready  given  several  specimens  of  his  mode  of  treating  the 
case  in  hand,  on  religious  grounds — a  mode  which  appears  to 
have  been  fully  sanctioned  in  the  colonial  courts  of  the  day,  we 
will  not  follow  him  through  his  long,  tedious,  Scriptural  argu 
ment,  but  only  take  notice  of  his  speech,  when  he  got  round, 
as  he  at  length  did,  to  the  alleged  origin  of  the  difficulties 
between  the  Indians  and  the  favored  people,  who  had  been 
sent  to  this  land,  as  he  affirmed,  to  possess  and  improve  it  as 
their  Heaven-bestowed  heritage. 


THE  DEACON'S  SPEECH.  41 

"These  heathen  salvages,"  lie  then  went  on  to  say,  "after 
their  lives  had  been  mercifully  spared — against  the  will  of 
Heaven,  I  greatly  fear — at  length  became  perverse  and  stub 
born,  utterly  refusing  to  hearken  to  the  Gospel  truths  and  be 
ginning  to  harbor  evil  designs  against  our  chosen  people. 
This  evil-minded,  and  rebellious  spirit  was  first  especially 
made  manifest  in  that  untoward  Sachem,  called  Alexander, 
who.  as  his  excellency  here,  then  an  actor  in  the  affair,  can 
bear  witness,  was  signally  chastised,  and  in  a  manner  unmis 
takably  showing  the  displeasure  of  Heaven  at  his  perverse  and 
wicked  conduct.  But  Philip,  the  subtle  and  treacherous  Sa 
chem  who  succeeded  him,  instead  of  being  warned  by  the  re 
buke  he  might  have  read  in  the  fate  of  his  brother,  soon  be 
came  guilty  of  still  more  untoward  and  heinous  conduct. 
Encouraged  in  his  audacious  courses  by  our  mistaken  forbear 
ance,  doubtless,  he  hath  gone  on  from  year  to  year,  in  open 
violation  of  his  solemn  treaties,  multiplying  his  offenses,  by 
stirring  up  his  tribe  of  Sathanic  malignants  to  hostility  against 
us.  plotting  with  other  tribes  to  join  him,  i'n  his  deeply  medi 
tated  onslaught  on  the  colony,  and  lastly  by  instigating  the 
foul  murder,  now  under  investigation.  And  thus  hath  he 
careered  it  in  his  wickedness,  until  he  hath  at  length  reached 
that  pitch  of  devilish  doing  and  intent,  wherein  all  have  been 
brought  to  see  that  the  public  peace  and  safety  loudly  de 
mand  that  he  should  receive  a  chastisement  at  our  hands, 
which  shall  at  once  put  a  stop  to  his  wicked  and  dangerous 
career,  and  serve  as  a  lesson  to  all  his  heathen  followers. 
Hence  the  present  prosecution,  and  hence,  also,  the  imperious 
necessity  of  a  result,  whereby  such  check  and  such  lesson  may 
be  publicly  given.  And  such  result,  since  the  guilt  of  prisoners 
stands  clearly  proved  and  established  by  the  most  indubitable 
testimony,  in  spite  of  all  attempted  perversions  thereof  by 
heretical  sympathizers — such  result,  I  say,  I  now,  in  the  pet- 


42  THE  DOOMED  CHIEF. 

formanc*  of  my  God-bounden  duty,  confidently  urge  and  de 
mand  at  the  hands  of  this  court  and  jury." 

Having  thus  delivered  himself,  the  heated  Deacon  dropped 
puffing  and  panting  into  his  seat  ;  when  Williams,  heeding 
neither  the  sneering  whispers  of  the  crowd,  nor  the  cold  and 
frowning  looks  of  the  court,  calmly  rose  and  entered  on  his 
speech  for  the  defense. 

"  I  do  not  deem  it  either  meet  or  necessary,"  he  said,  "for 
me  to  follow  the  opposing  speaker  through  that  part  of  his 
discourse  pertaining  to  the  duties  and  mission  of  the  church, 
which,  he  says,  God  has  planted  here  to  become  his  special 
heritage,  and  to  act  as  his  commissioned  instruments  in 
driving  out  the  unbelieving  heathen,  or  reduce  them  to 
obedience  and  belief  in  its  behests  and  doctrines.  I  devoutly 
hope  the  church  here  is  of  God's  planting,  and  that  its 
waterings  may  be  such  as  not  only  to  bring  it  increase,  but 
give  it  the  light  and  grace  to  permit  all,  whether  white  or 
red,  to  believe  and  worship  in  accordance  with  the  dictates  of 
conscience,  and  not  make  the  exercise  of  their  rightful  soul- 
liberty,  a  matter  of  accusation  against  them.  But  with  all 
this  I  have  nothing  to  do,  and  shall  only  begin  on  that  part 
of  his  argument  grounded  on  the  alleged  offenses  of  the  red 
men,  which  first  manifested  themselves,  he  asserts,  in  the 
conduct  of  that  hapless  young  chief,  Alexander,  (about  whose 
fate  it  would  have  been  better  wisdom  to  have  said  nothing,) 
and  to  have  been  continually  kept  up  by  his  successor,  Philip, 
to  the  present  time,  in  all  sorts  of  misdemeanors  and  crimes,  the 
last  of  which  was  the  instigation  of  the  alleged  murder  now 
unxier  consideration.  The  existence  of  continued  dissensions 
between  the  red  men  and  the  colonists,  I  fully  admit ;  but  as 
fully  deny  that  the  causes  assigned  for  these  dissensions  are 
the  true  ones,  or  that  they  have  any  special  bearing  on  this 
case.  Of  the  origin  and  continuance  of  our  difficulties  with 
the  Indians,  my  opponent  has  drawn  one  picture  in  colors 


WILLIAMS' s  SPEECH.  43 

wrought  up  from  rumor,  suspicion,  and  prejudice.  I  will 
draw  another  by  the  lights  of  certain  knowledge,  and  in  the 
spirit  of  even  handed  justice. 

"  Nearly  forty  years  ago,  a  youngerly  man,  banished  from 
his  home  in  the  neighboring  colony  for  his  advocacy  of  reli 
gious  liberty,  and  becoming  thereby  a  houseless,  hunted  out 
cast,  who  had  not  where  to  lay  his  head,  nor  wherewith  to 
sustain  life,  at  length  found  his  only  refuge  among  the  chil 
dren  of  the  forest,  and  was  especially  taken  in  hand  by  the 
very  tribe  of  whom  we  have  just  heard  such  sweeping  denun 
ciations.  Here,  finding  a  home  and  a  welcome,  the  more 
cordially  proffered  for  the  very  reasons  which  made  him  an 
exile,  he  studied  the  ways  and  characters  of  the  red  men, 
noted  their  virtues,  and  learned  to  make  allowance  for  their 
errors.  Being  then  in  the  family  of  the  peaceful  and  honest 
old  Massasoit,  he  could  not  but  regard  with  interest  the  heirs 
apparent  to  this  powerful  Sachemdom,  the  old  chief's  two 
sons,  Alexander  and  Philip,  who  have  been  branded  in  this 
presence  as  the  great  instigators  of  all  the  offenses  of  that 
branded  tribe.  They  were  then  in  the  flower  of  their  young 
manhood,  and  the  exile  thought  them,  as  he  looked  upon  their 
goodly  persons,  and  noted  their  manly  conduct  and  surprising 
intelligence,  two  young  men  of  whom  any  monarch  might 
well  be  proud,  as  successors  to  his  throne. 

"  After  a  while,  the  exile  made  himself  a  new  home,  but 
maintained  his  relations  and  intercourse  with  these  young 
chiefs,  and  was  cognizant  of  all  the  events  subsequently  hap 
pening  to  each — of  their  movements  and  motives — of  the 
accession  of  Alexander  to  the  throne,  and  of  his  prompt 
repairing,  with  his  brother  Philip,  to  the  court  of  Plymouth 
to  declare  their  wish  and  intention  to  maintain  inviolate  the 
treaty  of  their  father  with  the  whites — of  his  then  resting  in 
entire  confidence  of  their  faith  and  fair  dealing — of  his  deep 
surprise  in  being  summoned  to  Plymouth  to  answer  charges 


44  THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

of  meditating  a  violation  of  the  treaty,  confessedly  founded  on 
mere  minor,  and  of  his  still  greater  surprise  at  being  soon 
after  .-eized  in  his  peaceful  employments  by  a  band  of  armed 
white  men,  and  marched  off  a  prisoner  for  trial,  like  some 
felon  subject,  instead  of  the  independent  sovereign  their  own 
treaty  had  acknowledged  him.  The  exile  also  speedily 
became  apprised  of  the  young  chiefs  strangely  befalling  sick 
ness,  while  under  arrest,  and  of  his  delivery  to  his  friends  on 
pledge  for  his  return,  if  he  recovered,  that  his  degradation 
might  be  completed. 

"Yes,  the  exile  learned  this,  and  with  lively  concern  was 
hastening  to  the  seene  to  avert  the  anticipated  consequences 
of  the  outrage,  when  he  met  the  weeping  train,  just  landing 
from  the  river  with  their  sick  and  dying  chief.  Here  he 
stood  by  with  deeply  moved  feelings,  and  silently  witnessed  the 
mournful  scene.  From  minute  to  minute  he  noted  the  slower 
and  slower  heaving  bosom,  and  the  feebler  and  feebler  groans 
of  the  departing  sufferer,  that  rose  low  murmuring  on  the 
hushed  wilderness,  till  his  unstained  spirit  escaped  to  a  land 
where  persecution  ceases,  and  love  arid  forgiveness,  with  con 
scious  rectitude  of  purpose,  makes  heaven  for  the  red  man  as 
well  as  the  white.  The  exile  noted  all  this,  and  then  the 
brief,  awful  silence  that  followed,  the  wild  frenzied  wail  of 
anguish  that  the  next  moment  burst  from  the  convulsed  lips 
of  the  bereaved  young  queen,  the  dark,  but  comely  Wetamoo. 
then  the  low,  ominous  muttering  of  the  old  men,  as  they 
thought  of  the  authors  of  this,  their  great  sorrow  and  calam 
ity,  and  then  the  fierce  outcries  of  the  up-leaping  young  war 
riors  demanding  to  be  led  on  to  avenge  the  death  of  their 
idolized  chieftain. 

"  And  why  were  they  not  led  on  to  execute  their  fearful 
purpose  ?  They  had  good  cause  of  war,  and,  as  they  believed, 
of  a  war  of  bloody,  terrible  retribution  ;  for  the  Indians,  who 
are  the  most  unerring  guessers  of  any  class  of  people  I  have 


THE  DEACON'S  INDIGNATION.  45 

ever  met  with  in  the  old  world  or  new,  then  fully  believed, 
arid  have  ever  since  believed,  that  Alexander  came  to  his 
death  by  the  foul  hand  of  the  white  poisoner!" 

"  Damnable  falsehood  !  libel  !  treason  !  yea,  rank  treason  !" 
shouted  the  here  interrupting  deacon,  leaping  to  his  i'eet,  with 
a  countenance  blazing  with  holy  wrath  and  indignation. 
"  Was  it  not  Major  Josiah  Winslow,  who,  in  pursuance  of 
bounden  duty,  bravely  captured  and  brought  home  that  vile 
Sachem,  Alexander?  And  was  it  not  at  his  own  house  that 
the  captured  wretch  was  seized  with  the  fever,  brought  on  by 
his  heathen  ragings  ?  And,  moreover,  was  not  that  duty-doing 
Major  Winslow  the  same  person  who  is  now  here  presiding  as 
our  honored  governor?" 

"  The  gentleman  forgets  that  I,  myself,  made  no  accusation 
against  any  body,"  resumed  Williams,  taking  advantage  -of 
the  first  pause  in  the  deacon's  furious  outburst.  "  I  was 
merely  naming  the  belief  of  the  Indians  respecting  the  cause 
of  their  chief's  singular  death.  They  did  so  believe,  and 
repeated  their  conviction,  in  despite  the  rebuking  words  of  the 
exile,  who  told  them,  as  has  just  been  intimated,  that  he  must 
have  died  of  the  fever  of  passion,  or  grief  and  chagrin,  though 
his  suggestions  met  no  other  response  than  fiercely  shaking 
heads,  and  the  impatient  question,  '•Did  ever  Indian  catch 
fever  and  die  of  that  complaint  before?' 

"  But  I  willingly  pass  over  that  page  of  our  history,  which  I 
only  wish  we  had  never  been  compelled  to  place  there;  for  I 
gladly,  Oh  !  gladly, 

'  Would  tear  that  leaf —would  blot  it  with  a  tear/ 

I  will  pass  over  that  sad  page,  and  return  to  the  only  opinion 
I  could  be  taken  as  giving,  that  the  unwarranted  transaction 
gave  the  tribe  good  cause  of  war.  This  I  boldly  repeat;  for 
what  nation  is  there  on  earth,  heathen  or  civilized,  who,  if 
their  sovereign  were  seized  and  carried  off  by  another  nation 


48  THE   DOOMED    CHIEF. 

with  whom  they  were  in  treaty,  would  not  instantly  pronounce 
it  a  war-warranting  outrage?  Not  one.  Yes,  there  icas  cause 
of  war;  and,  as  I  before  asked,  why  did  not  war  follow?  I 
will  now  tell  you  why.  The  exile — yea,  the  despised  exile 
and  outcast — earnestly  interceded  for  his  old  white  persecutors^ 
and  Philip,  the  still  more  despised  aud  hated  Philip,  then  be 
coming  king,  soon  joined  him  in  appeasing  the  wrath  of  the 
red  men.  Such,  at  that  dangerous  crisis,  was  the  course  taken 
by  the  forbearing  Metacom,  who  then,  as  afterwards,  honestly 
tried  to  avoid  war,  the  consequences  of  which,  to  both  sides, 
his  for- reaching  sagacity  has  ever  fully  appreciated.  And  h« 
not  only  quelled  the  hostile  feelings  of  his  followers,  but  soon 
personally  notified  the  court  of  Plymouth  of  the  wish,  on  his 
part,  of  still  maintaining  the  treaty  of  his  father,  and  of  his 
brother,  notwithstanding  his  own  deep  sense  of  injury  at  what 
had  transpired. 

"  After  this  notification,  Philip  supposed,  as  his  luckless  bro 
ther  had  done,  that  this  was  sufficient,  without  paying  attend 
ance,  like  a  vassal,  at  the  court  of  Plymouth.  But,  like  his 
brother,  he  was  mistaken  about  the  double  requirement  of 
that  court,  that  would  have  him  an  independent  sovereign 
long  enough  to  bind  himself  in  treaty,  and  all  the  rest  of  the 
time  become  the  frequent  homage-paying  courtier,  so  that  he 
could  be  kept  in  subjection.  Though  not  at  first  understand 
ing  this,  yet  he  was  soon  made  to  know  it  In  a  short  time, 
he,  too,  was  summoned  t®  Plymouth  on  charges  founded  on 
suspicion,  or  the  false  representations  of  the  runagate  Indians 
whom  they  had  tempted  by  rewards  for  such  communications. 
He  concluded,  however,  to  heed  the  arrogant  summons,  for  by 
this  time  he  had  many  just  complaints  of  his  own  to  make 
known  against  the  whites,  for  their  inroads  on  his  lands,  and 
for  defrauding  his  people.  But,  warned  by  the  fate  of  his 
brother,  he  went  with  an  armed  escort,  and  held  parley  with 
the  court  in  the  open  air,  but  was,  notwithstanding,  entrapped 


PHILIP'S    NEGOTIATIONS    WITH    THE    COLONISTS.         47 

into  the  signing  of  a  new  treaty,  which  entirely  passed  over 
his  own  grievances,  they  being  no  part  of  the  object  of  the 
astute  framers,  and  by  which  he  was  unwittingly  made  to 
acknowledge  offenses  never  committed,  and,  as  a  punishment 
therefor,  to  promise  to  deliver  up  the  arms  of  his  tribe  to  the 
court.  Nor  was  this  all.  At  the  very  hour  when  he  was 
being  detained  by  this  one-sided  and  fraudulent  negotiation, 
the  men  of  Plymouth  were  secretly  mustering  an  armed  force 
to  overpower  his  attendants,  and  seize  him  as  a  prisoner;  and 
they  were  only  prevented  from  the  execution  of  their  design 
by  the  remonstrances  of  the  more  conscientious  pacificators, 
then  present  from  the  sister  colony.  And  this  was  but  the 
beginning  of  the  indignities  he  was  doomed  to  suffer.  Within 
a  short  period,  he  was  again  summoned  to  appear  before  the 
court  of  Plymouth,  under  threat  of  war,  for  the  violation  of 
the  last  so- claimed  treaty,  that  he  had  not  been  permitted  but 
partially  to  understand,  the  charge  this  time  being  that  he  had 
not  delivered  up  the  guns  of  his  people,  which  they  depended 
on  for  their  daily  subsistence,  and  which  he  had  no  power  to 
compel  them  to  surrender;  and  being  still  anxious  to  avoid 
war,  he  consented  to  another  conference,  and  met  the  court 
again,  but  with  a  force  of  warriors  sufficient  for  his  personal 
protection,  well  understanding  the  disgraceful  plan  which  had 
been  started  for  capturing  him  at  the  previous  meeting.  But 
the  presence  of  warriors  is  but  a  poor  shield  against  the 
over-reaching  of  designing  treaty- makers.;  and  this  time,  ano 
ther  of  those  extraordinary  documents  was  drawn  up  for  the 
occasion,  by  which  Philip  was  made  not  only  to  consent  to  be 
heavily  fined  for  his  alleged  disobedience,  but  relinquish  his 
sovereignty,  and  submit  himself  and  his  people  to  the  govern 
ment  of  the  colony!  And  the  whole  gist  of  all  the  conplaints 
since  made  against  him,  have  been,  riot  that  he  has  committed 
any  acts  of  hostility,  but  that  he  has  been  suspected  of  medi 
tating  them,  and  of  making  preparations  for  defending  himself 


48  THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

and  people,  in  disregard  of  those  one  sided,  fraudulent,  and 
therefore  void  compacts,  which,  as  if  in  insulting  mockery, 
are  now  claimed  as  solemn  and  mutually  ratified  treaties! 

"  Such  is  that  other  picture,  which  I  proposed  to  draw,  to 
contrast  with  the  one  drawn  by  my  opponent,  and  the  exile  I 
have  named  as  furnishing  the  materials  is  here,  in  the  person 
of  him  now  speaking,  to  vouch  for  its  truth  and  accuracy. 

"Now,  admitting  that  Philip,  in  view  of  the  wrongs  and  in 
dignities  that  have  been  heaped  upon  him  and  his  hapless 
predecessor,  together  with  the  well-warranted  belief  that  they 
were  but  the  first  steps  of  a  policy  to  be  pursued  till  he  and 
his  nation  should  be  entirely  subjugated  ;  admitting  he  has 
been  making  military  preparations,  and  courting  alliances  with 
other  tribes,  for  maintaining  his  sovereignty  and  defending 
his  people,  does  that  very  natural  precaution  place  him  in  the 
wrong  ?  Had  he  not  a  perfect  right  to  do  all  this  ?  Would 
not  you,  if  a  colony  of  strangers,  with  habits  and  notions  re 
pugnant  to  your  own,  should  plant  themselves  near  you,  begin 
to  aggress  on  your  rights,  and  manifest  a  disposition  to  reduce 
you  to  subjection — would  not  you  do  it  yourselves?  You 
know  you  would.  Then  ponder  it,  ye  rulers  of  Plymouth,  who 
profess  to  be  governed  by  the  golden  rule  of  doing  HS  you 
would  be  done  by,  ponder  it  well  before  you  further  denounce 
Metacom  of  Mor.taup  for  what  he  may  have-done,  or  rather 
what  he  has  been  suspected  of  doing,  and  pause  before  you  have 
taken  another  step  in  your  mistaken  and  indefensible  policy 
which  shall  make  his  cup  of  bitterness  to  overflow,  and  plunge 
these  colonies  into  the  horrors  of  a  savage  warfare. 

"  Having  thus  disposed  of  the  question  of  the  true  origin  of 
tfhese  difficulties  with  Philip  and  his  people,  and  snown  on 
which  side  impartial  justice  would  impute  the  greater  blame 
I  now  come  to  the  present  case  which  so  manifestly  grew  out 
ol  them,  and  which  could  not  for  a  moment  be  of  doubtful 
\tj;;ue  but  for  the  blinding  mists  of  prejudice,  and  that  most 


POINTS   OP   DEFENSE.  49 

reprehensible  policy  of  retaliating  anticipated  wrongs  in  order 

to  prevent  their  occurrence. 

"  The  case  is  a  plain  and  simple  one,  requiring  but  two  points 
in  the  defense,  either  of  which  should  be  sufficient  to  secure 
the  acquittal  of  the  prisoners. 

"  FIRST,  in  that,  I  wholly  deny  the  jurisdiction  and  right  of 
this  court  to  seize  and  try  these  prisoners,  for  the  crime 
alleged  against  them.  Sassamon,  by  his  own  confession,  was 
a  spy  and  a  traitor.  And  it  also  appears  he  had  previously 
committed  some  capital  offence.  And  for  these  double  crimes 
he  was  probably  tried  by  Philip's  Council,  and  voted  an  out 
law,  whom  it  was  the  patriotic  duty  of  every  man  of  the  tribe 
to  try  to  seize  and  destroy.  And  that  he  was  so  seized  and 
destroyed,  may  be  equally  probable.  But  the  destroyers  were 
only  co ni missioned  executioners  of  the  law  of  an  independent 
sovereignty,  not  murderers.  And  you  have  no  right  by  the 
law  of  nations,  or  by  treaty,  to  interfere  with  the  execution  j 
and  especially  so,  as  the  deed  was  committed  within  the  un- 
ceded  jurisdiction  of  their  government. 

"  SECOND,  Provided  that  you  had  the  right  and  jurisdiction 
you  claim,  and  that  Sassamon  was  slain  by  some  of  Philip's 
tribe,  you  cannot  convict  these  prisoners  without  clearly 
identifying  them  as  the  perpetrators  of  the  deed.  Have  you 
done  so?  Do  you  honestly  believe,  that  your  only  professed 
wiiness  of  the  act  could  identify  them  when  standing  more 
than  a  half  mile  distant  from  the  scene  ?  Would  you  hang  a 
white  man  on  such  an  identification  ?  Let  the  consciences  of 
the  jurors  answer,  and  direct  them  accordingly  in  the  making 
up  of  their  verdict.  And  what  of  the  only  other  part  of  the 
evidence  relied  on — the  so  called  ordeal  of  touching  the  corpse, 
and  the  claimed  interposition  of  Heaven,  in  causing  blood  to 
issue  from  the  already  putrid  body  ?  Will  you  look  to  the 
agency  of  Heaven  for  the  appearance  of  that  blood,  after 
noting  the  admissions  and  suspicious  manner  of  that  juggling 
4 


80  THE    DOOMED    CHIEF. 

witness,  Dick  Swain  ;  or  will  you  believe  it  came  there  through 
an  altogether  different  agency  ?  Again  let  the  consciences  of 
the  tryers  answer.  This  ends  the  case.  T  have  done,  and  will 
only  add,  let  the  jury  beware  how  they  render  a  verdict  which 
will  this  day  be  recorded  in  the  books  of  Heaven,  to  be  for 
ever  open  to  the  sleepless  eyes  of  avenging  justice,  as  well  as 
among  the  records  of  earth,  too  often  the  habitation  of  blind 
prejudice  and  wilful  error." 

Great  was  the  displeasure  of  the  court  functionaries  and 
their  supporters,  at  Williams'  triumphant  vindication  of  King 
Philip,  the  great  Diabolus  of  their  prejudice,  fear,  and  hatred  j 
at  his  fearless  unmasking  of  their  disguised  policy  for  the 
subjugation  of  the  Indians,  and  especially  at  his  ungracious 
exposure  of  the  weakness  of  their  testimony  against  the  al 
ready  death-doomed  prisoners.  All  this  was  abundantly  mani 
fested  in  the  shocked  and  excited  looks  of  the  audience,  and 
the  vexed  and  angry  appearance  of  the  court,  as  all  eyes  were 
turned  expectantly  to  Deacon  Mudgridge,  as  the  almost  Hea 
ven-commissioned  champion  who  would  now  rush  to  the  rescue 
of  their  endangered  case.  Nor  were  they  disappointed.  The 
Deacon  with  a  countenance  ominous  of  the  total  annihilation 
of  his  opponent,  was  instantly  on  his  feet,  hotly  pouring  forth 
a  flood  of  denials,  criminations,  and  anathemas,  alternately  on 
the  head  of  "  the  heretical  Sathan-siding  Williams,"  and  on 
that  of  "  the  wicked  and  God-accursed  Sachem  Philip,  and  his 
gnilty  instruments,  the  prisoners  at  the  bar."  But  having 
pretty  much  exhausted  his  fund  of  these  peculiar  resources, 
in  his  opening  speeches,  he  accomplished  little  more  than 
travel  again  over  his  old  ground  ;  which  he  did  with  entire 
persistency  and  keeping  to  the  end,  and  concluded  with  once 
more  vehemently  demanding  the  conviction  of  the  prisoners. 
And  the  sympathizing  and  ready  court,  in  a  short  charge 
much  in  the  spirit  of  the  Deacon's  argument,  submitted  the 
case  to  the  jury,  who,  in  their  turn,  after  a  brief  consultation 


THE   SENTENCE.  51 

among  the  white  portion  of  them,  and  a  hurried  question  or 
two  to  the  maudlin  and  stupefied  Indians  of  the  panel,  voted 
a  verdict  of  guilty  on  the  spot;  when  the  court'promptly  pro 
nounced  the  sentence,  and,  as  if  fearful  their  victims  might 
escape  by  the  usual  delay,  ordered  that  the  prisoners  all  be 
immediately  taken  hence  to  the  place  of  execution,  and  hanged, 
till  dead)  dead  I 


62  THE  DOOMED  CHISJ. 


CHAPTER  III. 

Blood  follows  blood,  and  through  their  mortal  span, 
In  bloodier  acts  conclude  those  who  with  blood  began. 

CHILDE  HAROLD. 

THE  instant  the  death-doom  of  the  poor,  fated  prisoners  was 
pronounced,  the  meeting-house  began  to  vomit  forth  its  crowds 
of  now  freshly  excited  occupants.  The  court  and  jury  had 
evidently  the  popular  tide  in  their  favor,  and  accordingly, 
their  decision,  however  strangely  they  might  have  arrived  at 
it,  was  applauded  by  the  majority  of  the  assembled  crowd, 
with  a  unanimity  and  emphasis  that  effectually  overpowered 
the  feeble  murmurs  of  the  less  bigoted  few,  who  were  dis 
posed  to  doubt  the  justice  and  wisdom  of  the  measure.  And 
as  the  procession  was  being  re-formed  and  put  in  motion,  the 
grim  smile  of  satisfaction  and  inward  triumph  was  everywhere 
observable  on  the  grave  and  well  trained  countenances  of  the  men, 
as  they  nodded  knowingly  to  each  other,  and  with  quickened  mo 
tions  bustled  to  their  places  in  the  ranks  ;  while  the  same  exult 
ant  emotions  found  a  livelier  expression  in  the  out-bursting 
shouts  of  the  boys,  who,  now  as  ever,  the  first  to  give  voice  to 
any  suppressed  public  feeling,  ran  trooping  along  in  advance 
towards  the  understood  place  of  execution,  the  strongly  en 
closed  yard  of  the  public  prison.  Everything,  indeed,  seemed 
to  wear  the  air  of  rejoicing.  The  shrill  fifes  struck  up  theii 
merriest  tune,  and  the  unmufilcd  drums  fiercely  rolled  theii 
jubilant  clamors  upon  the  air  }  and  the  procession  swept  OD 
like  a  triumphal  inarch,  graced  with  the  trophies  of  war,  tc 
the  celebration  of  a  victory.  As  the  head  of  the  column 


PREPARATIONS   FOR   EXECUTION.  53 

ncared  the  prison  yard,  a  wide  gate  was  thrown  open,  and  the 
living  mass,  both  those  in  formal  array  and.  the  flanking 
crowd  of  eager  spectators,  together  poured  into  the  spacious 
en  -losure  ;  when  the  first  object  that  greeted  their  eyes  wag 
a  new  gallows,  from  which  the  workmen  with  their  hastily 
snatched  tools,  were  seen  precipitately  retreating,  to  make 
room  for  the  in-rushing  torrent.  So  well  had  the  authorities 
anticipated  the  result  of  the  trial,  and  the  consequent  need 
of  such  a  structure  to  carry  out  the  programme  of  the  day. 
As  this,  and  all  similar  arrangements,  embracing  both  ropes 
and  rough  coffins,  had  been  thus  providently  effected  in 
advance,  there  was  no  need  of  any  delay  in  proceeding  at 
once  to  the  eagerly  sought  consummation,  and  accordingly, 
therefore,  the  procession,  after  marching  round  the  jail  house, 
situated  near  the  high  fence  on  one  side  of  the  spacious  arena, 
and  then  doubling  in  a  smaller  circle  round  the  sallows,  came 
to  a  halt,,  so  as  to  bring  the  prsoriers  and  their  guard  to  the 
foot  of  the  ladder  leading  up  to  the  platform,  which  was  made 
of  rough,  new  planks,  sufficiently  extended  to  admit  a  dozen 
persons,  and  elevated  about  ten  feet  from  the  ground.  The 
Indian  prisoners  were  then  at  once  pushed  forward  by  the 
guard  with  the  muzzles  of  their  loaded  and  cocked  muskets, 
and  driven  up  the  ladder  to  the  platform,  to  which  the  sheriff, 
his  few  artned  assistants,  and  the  ever  ready  Dummer,  again 
selected  to  make  the  customary  prayer  on  the  occasion,  had 
all  first  ascended  to  take  the  victims  in  charge  as  they  seve 
rally  reached  the  top  of  the  ladder.  The  prisoners  were  then 
placed  in  a  row,  and  made  to  stand  so  as  to  face  the  greater 
proportion  of  the  thickly  packed  crowd  of  spectators  below, 
when  they  were  allowed  a  momentary  respite,  professedly  to 
permit  them  to  reject  on  the  awful  fate  so  closely  awaiting 
them  ;  but  in  r«  ality,  more  probably,  to  make  them  an  exclu 
sive  spectacle  for  a  few  moments,  when  nothing  else  was 
occurring  to  divert  the  attention  of  the  spectators. 


54  THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

It  was  a  strange,  sad  scene.  First,  and  the  most  conspicu 
ous  of  the  motly  group  now  occupying  the  scaffold,  stood  the 
Brawny  savage  captain  and  councillor  of  Metacom,  Tobias, 
glancing  with  proud  defiance  at  his  executioners,  and  now 
frowning  contemptuously  down  upon  the  gazing  crowd  below. 
Next  stood  the  son  of  this  unflinching  prisoner,  a  lad  of  per 
haps  eighteen,  with  a  bosom  visibly  heaving  with  agitation, 
but  frequently  glancing  up  to  the  dauntless  countenance  of 
his  father,  as  if  to  gain  from  his  intrepid  bearing  the  courage 
that  would  enable  him  to  die  like  a  man  and  a  warrior  ;  and 
last  of  the  three  doomed  red  men,  stood  a  tall,  straight,  mid 
dle-aged  Indian,  with  head  erect,  and  a  look  of  boast  and 
scorn,  which  seemed  to  challenge  the  gazers  to  detect  in  him 
the  least  sign  of  fear  or  relenting.  Next,  and  partly  en 
closing  the  prisoners,  were  arranged  the  sheriff's  assistants, 
with  pistols  in  hand,  keenly  watching  the  former,  but  occa 
sionally  glancing  as  if  for  expected  orders,  to  their  superior, 
the  sheriff,  a  severe,  matter-of-fact  looking  man,  with  that 
prompt,  unquestioning  cast  of  countenance  which  betokened 
his  equal  readiness  to  make  a  prayer,  or  hang  an  Indian,  as 
the  authorities  might  be  pleased  to  direct.  The  latter  im 
portant  personage  had  taken  his  stand  with  a  drawn  sword  in 
his  hand,  a  little  in  the  rear  of  his  line  of  assistants,  and  was 
keeping  his  eye  on  Deacon  Mudgridge,  at  the,  foot  of  the 
ladder  below,  as  if  waiting  for  a  signal  to  proceed  ;  and  last 
am  on  2  this  contrasted  group,  apart  from  all,  stood  the  pious 
Shadow  Dummer,  with  his  folded  hands  raised  to  his  chin, 
his  head  meekly  canted  on  one  side,  his  eyes  partly  shut,  and 
his  face  devoutly  turned  heavenward. 

Such  was  the  contrasted  picture  presented  in  the  important 
few,  who  were  now  the  focus  of  all  eyes,  either  as  execution 
ers  or  sufferers,  that  were  to  furnish  the  materials  of  the  great 
exhibition  of  the  day.  as  they  stood  there  on  the  platform 
above,  in  bold  relief  against  the  sky.  Below  the  whole  broad 


DESCRIPTION   OP   THE    CROWD.  55 

acre,  constituting  the  part  of  the  enclosure  more  especially 
devoted  to  the  purposes  of  the  occasion,  was  blackened  all 
over  by  the  multitude  of  men,  boys,  and  the  spiritless,  half- 
civilized  red  men  of  the  vicinity,  going  under  the  name  of 
praying  Indians,  with  here  and  there  a  more  erect,  unerring 
specimen  of  the  same  race,  from  the  forests,  who  had  nei 
ther  pretension  nor  desire  to  claim  any  such  distinction — all 
here  congregated  to  witness  this  widely  bruited  trial,  and  almost 
as  widely  promised  execution.  But  they  presented  no  such 
appearance  as  that  of  a  modern  promiscuous  assemblage, diver 
sified  by  variety  of  habiliments,  difference  of  deportment,  and 
faces  of  every  expression,  from  sad  and  grave,  to  lively  and 
jocose.  For  as  they  stood  here  in  their  broad-brimmed,  suiiar- 
loaf  hats,  dark,  long,  and  wide  napped  round-abouts,  trouser  or 
petticoat  breeches,  awkwardly  furbelowed,  or  doubled  over  at  the 
knee,  long,  gartered  hose,  and  buckled  shoes,  all  of  uniform  cut 
and  color  in  the  still  unaltered  fashion  of  the  Puritan  costume 
of  James  the  First — as  thus  garbed,  they  stood  here,  with  their 
stiff  and  measured  motions,  subdued  demeanors,  and  counte 
nances  trained  to  the  solemn,  unvarying  gravity  which  they 
supposed  could  alone  comport  with  the  character  of  a  Chris 
tian  people,  they  seemed  as  much  alike  as  a  herd  of  animals 
of  the  same  species,  with  one  general  outward  appearance,  one 
general  expression  of  countenance,  and  one  deportment  among 
old  and  young  ;  for  even  the  boys  seemed  like  men  of  a  lesser 
growth.  And  there  was  no  perceptible  variation  in  the  ap 
pearance  of  the  whole  vast  crowd,  except  what  might  have 
been  occasioned  by  the  bareheaded,  blanketed  Indians  with 
whom  it  was  sprinkled. 

But  there  was  now  a  commotion  among  the  expectant 
throng.  Deacon  Mudgridge,  still  the  acting  director  of  the 
ceremonies,  was  seen  making  a  signal  to  the  sheriff,  who,  in 
turn,  was  seen  beckoning  to  some  one  else,  standing  near  him. 
And  presently  the  Shadow  was  seen  slowly  advancing  to  the 


56  THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

front  of  the  platform,  when,  after  a  solemn  pause,  he  gradu 
ally  upturned  his  cadaverous  face,  spread  abroad  his  long, 
bony  arms,  and  raised  his  loud,  heaven-aspiring  voice  in 
thanksgiving  and  prayer.  He  thanked  God  for  the  special 
care  he  had  taken  of  his  rock-founded  church,  and  chosen 
people  in  America — -for  the  triumphs  he  had,  from  time  to 
time,  vouchsafed  them  over  the  powers  of  darkness,  as  latterly 
manifested  in  the  raging  of  the  heathen  in  the  wilderness,  and 
especially  he  thanked  him  for  the  signal  manner  in  which  he 
had  made  justice  to  triumph  in  their  behalf,  this  day,  through 
the  instrumentalities  of  wise  and  godly  rulers  and  judges,  and 
the  strong  pillars  of  his  church  household.  And  he  prayed 
that  the  auspicious  result  might  be  made  to  work  a  lasting 
rebuke  on  the  heathen  malignants,  now  plotting  the  overthrow 
of  God's  church  and  people,  and  teach  their  accursed  sachem 
a  lesson  which  should  strike  terror  into  his  black  and  guilty 
heart,  and  make  him  to  see  that  the  Lord  reigneth,  and  will 
consume  all  those  who  may  attempt  to  conspire  against  his 
elect,  like  stubble  in  the  fire,  yea,  like  chaff  in  the  fiery  fur 
nace. 

All  this,  with  great  unction,  he  thanked  God  for,  and  all 
this  with  equal  unction  and  added  fervor  he  prayed  for,  for 
getting  to  offer  one  single  word  in  petition  for  mercy  for  the 
souls  of  the  poor  red  men  about  to  be  launched  into  eternity. 
And  he,  doubtless,  really  believed,  that  his  effort  would  be  as 
acceptable  to  a  just  and  merciful  heaven,  as  he  knew  it  would 
be  to  his  bigot-blind  hearers  on  earth. 

Scarcely  had  the  loud,  long-drawn  voice  of  Dummer  ceased 
in  the  suddenly  modulated  double  amen,  before  that  of  Deacon 
Mudgridge,  now  mounted  on  a  block  about  halfway  between 
the  segregated  group  of  court  officials  and  the  ladder,  was 
heard  sternly  muttering. 

"  Proceed  !  the  prisoners  have  been  allowed  time  for  that 
reflection,  and  repentance  for  their  awful  crime,  which,  if 


EXECUTION    OF    THE   PRISONERS.  57 

rightly  bestowed  and  truly  felt,  v\ill  serve,  it  may  be,  to  sol- 
ten  their  torments  in  the  dreadful  place  to  which  they  are  about 
to  go, — they  have  had  amnle  time  for  this, — it  is  almost  sun 
set, — time  presses, — proceed  at  once  with  the  execution." 

"  Proceed  there  !"  echoed  the  sheriff,  waving  his  sword  to 
his  assistants;  "lead  the  oldest,  prisoner  to  his  drop, — the  fur- 
therest  there  on  the  right, — adjust  the  noose  round  his  neck, 
and  let  one  of  you  stand  ready  with  his  hatchet  to  cut  the  cord 
holding  up  the  drop,  when  the  word  is  given." 

The  preparations  had  evidently  all  been  elaborately  made. 
Three  separate  drops,  one  for  each  prisoner,  and  all  jutting 
out  nearly  a  yard  beyond  the  outer  edge  of  the  platform,  had 
been  constructed,  fitted  in,  and  made  secure  on  a  level,  by  a 
strong  cord  fastened  to  the  front  part,  and  running  up  to  a 
round,  elevated  beam  fixed  up  on  the  other  side  of  the  scaf 
folding  for  the  purpose.  Over  these  drops,  dangling  from 
the  long  arm  of  the  gallows-tree,  hung  the  fatal  nooses,  ready 
for  the  necks  of  the  prisoners. 

With  eager  alacrity,  the  obsequious  assistants  sprang  to  the 
execution  of  these  designated  preliminaries,  and  within  two 
minutes,  th,e  still  undaunted  old  warrior  stood  out  alone  on  the 
drop,  throwing' his  last  look  of  contempt  more  defiantly  than 
ever  around  him.  An  attempt  was  then  made  to  draw  a  cap 
over  his  face,  but  by  a  sudden  motion  of  his  head,  he  brought 
it  to  his  feet,  and  kicked  it  scornfully  down  upon  the  hooting 
crowd  below. 

"  Strike  the  cord  then  !"  shouted  the  sheriff. 

It  was  done.  The  drop  fell ;  and  the  old  captain  and  coun 
cillor  of  Kincr  Philip  was  a  contorted  corpse. 

The  tall  prisoner  was  next  placed  upon  his  drop  and  made 
ready  for  his  fate,  in  the  same  way,  and  with  the  same  hur 
ried  manner,  as  if  the  executioners  were  laboring  under  secret 
misgivings  about  the  part  they  were  performing,  and  were 
anxious  to  have  the  job  over.  His  face  wore  a  less  stoical 


58  THE  DOOMED  CHIEF. 

and  a  more  excited  expression  than  the  one  just  gone  before 
him.  But  he  bore  up  bravely,  proudly,  and  was  turned  off 
in  the  midst  of  his  own  death-chant,  which  he  went  down 
singing  in  full  strain,  till  the  jerk  of  the  rope  suddenly  cut 
short  his  song  and  his  life  together. 

The  ready  executioners  then  immediately  laid  hold  of  the 
last,  whom  we  have  named  as  the  youthful  prisoner.  He 
was  now  more  agitated  than  ever,  started  wildly,  as  the  first 
hand  was  laid  upon  him,  and  hung  back  shuddering,  and 
shrinking  from  the  fatal  drop  before  him.  But  finding  this 
of  no  avail,  he  ceased  his  struggles,  and,  casting  an  agonized 
look  up  into  the  faces  of  his  executioners,  he  broke  out  into 
the  few  English  words  of  which  he  was  master,  and  piteously 
begged  for  his  life.  He  might  as  well,  however,  have  ap 
pealed  to  the  gallows  itself  j  and  the  only  response  which  his 
petitions  received,  was  the  quick  lasso-like  throw,  and  the 
tightening  of  the  rope  round  his  neck,  and  the  violent  push 
that  sent  him  staggering  forward  on  to  the  drop.  And  be 
fore  he  had  time  to  recover  his  balance,  came  the  sharp  order 
of  the  impatient  sheriff  to  the  man  standing  with  uplifted 
hatchet  over  the  cord  sustaining  the  drop. 

"Striked 

The  rasping  sound  of  the  blow  of  the  severing  instrument 
instantly  followed,  and  the  drop  and  the  prisoner  went  down 
together.  But  the  next  moment  the  crowd  below  was  seen 
suddenly  to  heave  like  a  billow,  and  a  quick  half-smothered 
cry  of  surprise  and  horror  burst  from  a  thousand  voices.  The 
rope  had  broken  ;  and  the  paralyzed,  but  still  life-whole  victim 
had  been  landed,  doubled  and  distorted,  on  the  ground  at  the 
very  feet  of  the  shrinking  throng.  Two  soldiers  of  the  guard 
that  had  taken  post  near  by,  now  quickly  threw  down  their 
guns,  sprang  forward  and  seized  the  prisoner,  just  as  he  had 
succeeded,  after  several  convulsive  and  ineffectual  efforts,  in 
gaining  his  feet;  while  another,  with  leveled  and  cocked  mus- 


EXTORTED   CONFESSION.  59 

ket.  came  up  behind  him.  A  glance  at  the  ladder  and  the 
horrid  implements,  to  which  he  was  being  forced  ,al on: g  to  un 
dergo  a  second  ordeal,  now  seemed  to  recall  the  poor  fellow  to 
his  full  consciousness;  and  he  again  broke  out  into  wild  la- 
mentations  and  petitions  for  mercy. 

"  Stay  a  little,"  said  the  here  interposing  Deacon,  to  whom 
a  new  thought  seemed  suddenly  to  have  occurred, — "  keep 
your  hold,  but  let  him  stand  a  moment.  Wretch  !"  he  con 
tinued,  and  turning  sternly  to  the  frantic  and  struggling 
victim, — "  guilty  wretch,  after  this  foretaste  of  what  so  cer 
tainly  awaits  you,  won't  you  now  confess  your  crimes?" 

The  prisoner  suddenly  paused,  and,  in  the  first  impulse  of 
the  moment,  threw  a  look  of  scorn  upon  the  other,  in  return 
for  what  was  evidently  deemed  an  insulting  proposition,  but 
he  remained  silent. 

<;  Poor  heathen,"  resumed  the  Deacon  in  softened  tones, 
instead  of  giving,  as  all  seemed  to  expect,  a  fierce  order  for 
the  instant  renewal  of  the  murderous  ordeal  on  the  exhibition 
of  such  contumacy, — "  poor  benighted  heathen,  now  if  you 
will  only  say  you  were  there  and  saw  your  father,  Tobias,  and 
that  other  Indian  kill  Sassamon,  I  will  give  you  my  promise 
that  we  won't  hang  you." 

The  poor,  tried,  and  tempted  sufferer  again  paused  and 
seemed  to  be  passing  through  a  severe  inward  Struggle  be 
tween  pride, — perhaps  principle,  and  the  love  of  life.  The 
latter,  however,  as  he  glanced  up  to  the  dead  bodies  of  his 
kindred,  and  the  gallows,  with  the  already  substituted  new 
rope  awaiting  his  neck,  at  length  appeared  to  prevail,  and  he 
repeated  over  in  the  affirmative  the  words  which  the  other  had 
shaped  for  him. 

"  Then  you  say,  and  truly  confess,  that  you  did  see,  Tobias 
and  the  other  Indian  kill  Sassamon,  and  put  him  through 
the  ice  ?" 

"Y-a-s,— said  so." 


60  THE    DOOMED    CHIEF. 

"  And  you  stood  by  yourself,  saw  the  deed  done,  and  did 
nothing  to  prevent  it  ?" 

"  Y-a-s,  but  no  help  do  it, — no  touch  him,  one  time,  at  all." 

"There!"  exclaimed  the  Deacon,  triumphantly,  mounting 
a  block,  and  waving  his  hand  to  attract  the  attention  of  the 
whole  assemblage,  as  well  as  that  of  all  the  court  authorities, — 
"  there  !  what  will  the  blaspheming  doubters  say,  now  ?  He 
has  confessed, — one  of  the  very  murderers  themselves  has 
fully  confessed  the  foul  deed  !  The  verdict,  sentence,  and 
execution  of  the  two  dead,  hell-deserving  murderers,  all  now 
stand  completely  vindicated.  It  was  but  Heaven's  justice 
upon  them.  They  were  both  rightfully  executed.  And  this 
poor  wretch,  also,  who  has  just  owned  himself  an  accomplice 
in  the  deed, — what  can  he  now  say  against  his  well-merited 
doom  ?  l  Out  of  his  own  mouth  will  I  condemn  him  saith 
•uy  God."  How  shall  we,  then,  dare  incur  His  displeasure, 
by  suffering  the  wretch  to  escape  the  death  which  the  sen 
tence  this  day  so  justly  pronounced  against  him,  and,  which 
is  now  required  at  our  hands?  I  confess/'  he  added,  look 
ing  round  to  those  who  had  acted  as  the  magistrates  at  the 
trial, — "  I  freely  confess  I  do  not  see  how  we  can  avoid  such 
a  God-bounden  duty." 

"  No,  truly,  brother  Mudgridge,"  mildly  responded  one  of 
the  magistrates  ;  "but  you  gave  him  your  promise  that  he 
should  not  be  hanged,  if  he  confessed,  as  he  did  ;  and  it,  were 
to  be  wished,  in  ordinary  cases — not  that  I  would  contond 
that  a  promise  to  a  heretic  heathen,  and  made  to  bring  about, 
as  we  are  commanded,  the  ends  of  justice,  should  be  deemed 
a  conscience-binding  matter — still,  as  I  was  about  to  say,  it 
were  rather,  perhnps,  to  be  wished  that  there  was  no  neces 
sity  of  contravening  the  literal  words  of  the  promise." 

"  I  concur  with  the  brother  who  has  just  spoken,"  said  an 
other  of  the  court,  a  little  more  firmly;  "but  as  the  promise  was 
made,  I  should  prefer  not  to  have  it  broken,  at  least,  not  in 


THE   PROMISE   EVADED.  61 

direct  terms.  If  the  governor,  who  withdrew  just  before  the 
prisoners  were  swung  off,  was  here,  perhaps  he  would — " 

11  The  promise  need  not  be  broken — I  said  he  should  not  be 
hung,  and  he  shan't,"  interposed  the  Deacon,  lowering  his  voice, 
and  looking  knowingly  to  the  magistrates — "  leave  that  to  me." 

So  saying,  he  turned  round  to  the  soldier  standing  with 
leveled  gun,  a  few  yards  behind  the  prisoner,  and  hurriedly 
gave  him  some  signal.  The  deafening  report  of  a  musket  the 
next  instant  burst  from  the  spot.  And  as  the  smoke  rose, 
the  hapless  young  Indian  was  seen  prostrate  and  writhing  in 
dying  agony  on  the  ground. 

Thus  was  consummated  a  measure  so  unwisely  begun,  so 
questionably  conducted,  ahd  so  horribly  concluded.  As  a 
matter  of  policy  only,  it  was,  under  the  circumstances,  a  mea 
sure  of  madness  from  its  inception  ;  it  was  persisted  in  and 
carried  on  in  violation  of  many  of  the  most  established  princi 
ples  of  law  and  justice,  and  brought  to  close  in  a  manner, 
about  which,  even  some  of  the  bigoted  actors  themselves, 
were  evidently  not  without  their  misgivings.  Especially  was 
this  betrayed  in  the  case  of  Deacon  Mudgridge,  who,  as  soon 
as  the  last  act  was  over,  seemed  impatient  to  have  the  crowd 
depart,  lest,  probably,  his  opponent  in  the  trial,  Williams,  or 
others  like  him.  who  were  perhaps  present,  should  make  a 
speech  questioning  some  of  the  proceedings  ;  and,  after  fidget 
ing  awhile  at  the  delay  of  the  spectators,  who  seemed  in  no 
haste  to  move,  he  sought  the  never  failing  Duinmer,  and  sug 
gested  that  perhaps  a  few  words  had  better  be  said,  as  a  sort 
of  announcement  that  the  proceedings  were  over,  or  as  a  dis 
missal  of  the  assembly ;  whereupon  the  ever  ready  Shadow,  in 
a  strange  mingling  of  the  announcement  of  a  crier,  with  the 
benediction  of  a  minister,  jumbled  together  in  accordance 
with  the  wording  of  the  hint  just  received,  mounted  a  bench 
and  loudly  exclaimed — 

"  The  Lord  reigneth,  let  the  people  rejoice  !     The  specta- 


OS  THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

cles  of  the  day  are  over.  The  assembly  is  dismissed,  and  will 
now  retire  to  their  homes;  and  nu«y  the  Lord  add  his  bless 
ing,  and  suitably  impress  them  all  by  the  solemn  scenes  the} 
have  this  day  witnessed.  Amen." 

But  contrary  to  the  announcement  of  the  Shadow,  and  ne 
less  to  the  wishes  of  the  Deacon,  the  proceedings  of  the  day 
wore  not  to  close  without  an  additional  scene,  and  one,  too, 
which  was  as  unwelcome  to  many  as  it  was  unexpected  to  all. 
As  the  crowd  were  beginning  to  get  in  motion,  preparatory 
to  taking  their  departure,  individuals  in  different  parts  of  the 
swaying  throng  were  seen  suddenly  stopping  short,  and  point 
ing  excitingly  up  over  the  top  of  the  tall  fence  on  the  western 
side  of  the  enclosure.  One  after  another  rapidly  caught  the 
significant  gestures  ;  and  soon  the  whole  assembly  -were 
brought  to  a  stand,  and  their  eyes  turned  in  the  direction  of 
the  indicated  spot. 

There,  in  the  last  flickering  gleams  of  the  setting  sun,  planted 
on  the  flat  roof  of  an  old  deserted  building,  a  little  removed 
from  the  other  side  of  the  fence,  but  so  far  overtopping  it  a3 
to  bring  it  within  view  of  all,  conspicuously  stood,  side  by 
side,  two  persons  of  the  different  sexes,  both  garbed  in  dress  and 
insignia  which  sufficiently  betokened  at  once  their  race  and 
individual  distinction.  The  man,  who  was  tall,  strongly  built, 
but  in  exquisite  proportions,  with  a  towering  Grecian  head, 
and  features  of  corresponding  shapeliness,  wore  on  his  head  a 
snugly  setting  coroniform  cap,  composed  of  an  encircling  belt 
of  bright  waiupun,  and  surmounted  by  a  single  tastily  en- 
wreathed  plume  of  red  feathers — on  his  feet  and  legs,  gaily 
beaded,  yellow  gaiters  ;  and  on  his  body  a  blue  broadcloth 
frock,  made  whole  like  a  hunting  shirt,  terminating  in  a  red 
fringe  at  the  knees,  and  confined  round  the  waist  by  a  broad 
wampun  girdle.  These,  with  the  bright-bladed  tomahnwk,  that 
gleamed  from  his  girdle,  and  the  long  <zun  that  stood  resting  in 
the  hollow  of  his  arm  at  his  side,  completed  his  dress,  and  all  his 


SPEECH   OP   KING   PHILIP.  63 

visible  equipment.  The  woman,  once  the  belle  and  beauty  of 
the  forest,  and  still  of  a  model  figure,  and  finely  cut  features, 
was  similarly  accoutred,  except  in  the  lengthened  skirt  and 
high  bosom  by  which  the  Indian  female  costume  is  maiuly 
distinguished. 

"  It  is  King  Philip  !"— «  Aye,  King  Philip  and  Queen 
Weetamo  !"  were  soon  heard  buzzing  through  the  surprised 
and  agitated  throng  of  gazers  below.  For  a  moment  after  he 
was  discovered,  the  chief  object  of  their  riveted  attention  re 
mained  motionless,  silent,  and  thoughtful.  But  now  he  ad 
vanced  a  step,  his  lips  opened,  and  his  voice,  rising  like  the 
first  low  notes  of  a  trumpet,  rang  out  clea'r  and  distinct  upon 
the  air  :  — 

"  Listen  !  listen,  pale  faces  of  Plymouth!  listen  to  the  last 
words  which  Metacoiri  has  desire  ever  to  say  to  you.  The  men 
that  my  father  could  have  brushed  into  the  sea  with  his  hand, 
but  instead  gave  them  all  the  lands  they  wanted,  protected 
them  in  their  feebleness,  and  all  his  life  stood  between  them 
and  the  hostile  tribes  who  would  have  destroyed  them — these 
men  have  grown  too  strong  to  remember  his  kindness  in  their 
treatment  to  his  son.  True,  they  have  talked  peace,  but  done 
the  works  of  war,  Metacom  has  talked  peace  and  showed  his 
good  faith  by  doing  the  works  of  peace.  They  have  made 
treaties  with  him  as  a  king,  and  used  him  as  a  subject  bound 
to  obey  them,  and  bear  all  they  put  upon  him,  without  word 
or  question.  They  have  seized  on  his  lands  and  hunting 
grounds,  on  claim  of  deeds  from  traitor  Indians,  that  they  knew 
had  no  right  to  sell  them.  They  have  got  his  people  drunk 
arid  cheated  them  out  of  their  furs  and  wampun.  They  have 
forced  him  to  give  up  the  hunting  guns  by  which  his  people 
got  their  living.  They  have  put  heavy  fines  upon  him.  They 
have  taken  his  bad  Indians  by  the  hand,  and  rewarded  them 
for  lying  about  him.  They  have  'thought  to  make  him  a 
tlave,  and  once  planned  to  seize  him  as  a  prisoner,  and  serve 


bin,  may  be,  as  they  did  hi*  brothet  All  these  tfcinjr*  they 
bare  done;  and  so  broken  their  treaty,  as  many  tin.es  as  the 
snows  bare  come  and  gone,  sinee  be  t»»k  the  place  of  his  fa 
ther.  Bat  still  Metacom  wanted  peace.  He  would  not 
listen  to  the  words  of  war  from  his  tribe,  who  knew  there  was 
good  cause  of  war ;  for  he  jet  hoped  that  the  pale  faces  would 
soon  show  some  of  the  repentance  and  good  doing  tbej  so 
much  preach  to  the  Indians.  And  he  stood  between  them 
and  his  angry  warriors.  Tet  he  found  none  of  the  good 
doing,  bat  much  of  the  worse.  He  soon  found  them  threat 
ening  war  against  him,  unless  be  came  to  Plymouth  to  humble 
and  put  himself  in  subjection.  And  because  he  did  not  come 
tbey  sent  a  paid  spy  among  bis  tribe — one  who  was  before  a 
traitor,  and  a  criminal,  but  spared  dVath  in  great  mercy,  and 
who  now  died  for  his  double  crime.  They  then,  guided  by 
other  traitors,  came  within  his  treaty  limit.*,  seized  the  beat 
men  of  his  tribe  a*  murderers,  who  were  no  murderers.  At 
murderers  they  tried  and  sentenced  them,  instead  of  giving 
them  up  to  be  tried  by  their  own  people  as  you  were  bound  by 
your  treaty  to  do.  And  now  jon  bare  dared  to  choke  them 
to  death  with  ropes,  after  your  own  fashion,  like  dop«,  or  your 
Quakers  and  witches.  And  there  they  hang,  to  tell  the  red 
man  the  story  of  the  way  in  which  you  woald  hare  peace  and 
friendship  with  his  people.  31etacom  has  been  here  to  see 
with  his  own  eyes  how  you  have  made  this  black  finish  to 
your  high  heaped  insults  and  outrages.  And  he  haw  now 
opened  his  month  to  tell  yon  he  will  hold  back  the  hatchets 
of  bis  warriors  no  longer.  And  if  they  now  be  niade  red — 
if  your  houses  burn,  and  your  people  die — on  jour  own  eon- 
.  triving  beads  rest  the  blood  of  your  slain  men — on  your  own 
affrighted  eyes  flash  the  light  of  your  burning  buildings,  and 
on  your  own  guilty  ears  ring  the  cries  of  your  periling 
women  and  children." 

During  the  first  part  of  this  cutting  and  most  unwelcome 


ESCAPE  or  PHILIP.  65 

expose,  the  red  man's  wrongs  and  their  forbearing  chiefs  griev 
ances  coming  as  if  in  confirmation  of  the  uneasy  Deacon's  ap 
prehensions,  though  from  a  far  different  source,  that  important 
nage  made  no  active  demonstrations,  and  only  stood 
wincing,  and  frowning  his  pious  indignation.  But  as  the 
bold  speaker  was  drawing  to  the  close,  which  involved  a 
Virtual  declaration  of  war,  the  pent  wrath  of  the  former  began 
to  show  itself  in  action.  He  started,  looked  fiercely  around, 
and  then  hastened  in  among  the  group  of  the  amazed,  but 
more  quiet  officials,  held  a  low,  hurried  consultation  with 
them,  and  then  ran  back,  and  made  some  communication  to 
the  guard,  the  nature  of  which  the  next  moment  became  ap 
parent.  A  strong  detachment  of  the  guard  was  seen  rushing 
towards  the  entrance  of  the  enclosure,  and  the  rest,  on  a 
fresher  instigation,  hastily  cocking  and  raising  their  muskets. 
But  all  in  vain.  The  quick  eye  of  the  wary  chief  had  detected, 
and  rightly  divined  the  whole  movement.  And  before  the 
sound  of  his  last  terrible  words  had  died  on  the  ears  of  his 
dismayed  and  trembling  listeners,  he  had  disappeared,  and  was 
lost,  alike  as  a  target  for  those  preparing  to  fire  on  him  from 
within,  and  as  a  prisoner-prize  for  those  sent  round  to  seize 
him  from  without.  He  had  somehow  strangely  slipped  away 
and  was  nowhere  to  be  found. 

But  though  Philip,  who  had  caused  so  much  annoyance  to 
the  court  leaders,  as  well  as  the  deep  sensation  everywhere 
apparent  among  the  general  mass  of  the  assemblage,  had  now 
disappeared,  and  all  seemed  to  breathe  easier,  like  men  sud 
denly  relieved  from  the  presence  of  some  fearful  apparition — 
though  Philip,  the  chief  cause  of  the  commotion,  had  disap 
peared  ;  yet  neither  the  one  class  nor  the  other  of  the  dis 
turbed  throng  were  to  be  let  off  without  a  finale  of  the  strange 
scene,  calculated  to  sink  deeper  in  minds  imbued  with  super 
stition  than  anything  in  the  one  they  had  just  witnessed. 
Philip  had  indeed  taken  LU  final  departure,  but  his  companion 


THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

remained  unmoved  and  motionless,  standing  up  in  tne  graj 
twilight  like  some  antique  bronze  statue,  frowning  down  upon 
ally  but  with  looks  particularly  bent  on  the  soldiers  who  had 
just  been  baulked  of  their  noble  game,  and  who  still  stood 
with  their  guns  partly  raised  in  the  direction,  and  seemingly 
hesitating,  in  their  evident  surprise  that  she  had  not  taken 
fright  and  fled  also,  whether  she  was  to  be  made  a  substitute 
target  for  their  bullets.  In  a  moment  she  defiantly  took  a 
step  in  advance,  and  with  wild  gestures,  and  in  shrill  and 
frantic  tones,  exclaimed, — 

"  Let  the  pale  faces  fire,  if  they  like.  It  would  be  a  brave 
thing  to  kill  a  squaw,  and  a  fitting  close  of  their  bloody 
days'  doings  !  Aye,  let  them  fire,  if  they  will,  and  finish  an 
old  work  on  the  queen-wife  of  the  murdered  Alexander  ' 
What  !  cowards,  are  you  afraid  of  a  woman  ?  Then  hear  the 
curse  and  prophecy  of  the  bruised  and  broken  hearted  Weta 
moo,  who  has  been  made  strong  enough  to  live  only  by  the 
hope  of  seeing  the  hour  when  her  terrible  wrongs  should  be 
avenged  !  Base  poisoners  of  my  noble  husband,  that  sweet 
hour  is  at  hand.  The  day  of  the  red  man's  reckoning  has 
come.  The  bitter  curse,  which,  in  all  her  dreams,  and  in  all 
her  day  doings,  has  for  years  been  burning  in  the  torn  bosom 
of  Wetamoo,  is  at  last  about  to  light  upon  your  heads.  You 
have  at  last  aroused  the  old  lion  of  his  long  angry  tribe,  and 
you  will  soon  see  the  difference  between  Philip  in  the  war 
path,  and  Philip  meekly  asking  peace  in  your  council  lodge. 
He  will  soon  see  for  every  drop  of  the  blood  of  his  people  you 
have  this  day  shed,  a  whole  river  flowing  from  your  own. 
And  the  glad  eyes  of  Wetamoo  will  soon  see,  too,  for  every 
hair  of  her  murdered  husband's  head,  a  bloody  scalp  torn 
from  the  heads  of  the  pale  faces,  swinging  in  the  lodges  of  the 
red  men.  You  made  Wetamoo  a  widow,  and  you  have  made 
two  other  widqws  to-day,  but  for  every  widow  you  have  made 
among  the  red  men,  you  shall  see  a  thousand  wailing  widows 


REACTION    BEGUN.  67 

among  yourselves.  Your  houses  and  hearthstones  shall  all  be 
made  red  with  blood,  and  your  whole  land  heavy  with  tears. 
This  is  the  curse  and  prophecy  of  Wetamoo,  and  by  her  God, 
and  by  your  God,  she  swears  that  the  one  shall  follow  you  till 
every  word  and  jot  of  the  other  be  fulfilled." 

She  ceased.  As  she  had  been  permitted,  notwithstanding 
the  boldness  of  her  denunciations,  and  the  fearful  import  of 
her  prophetic  maledictions,  to  proceed  unmolested,  so  unmo 
lested  she  was  allowed  to  retire  from  her  stand,  and  go  where 
she  chose.  And  so  ended  the  day,  made  memorable  in  Puri 
tan  history,  as  the  precursor  of  the  desolating  and  terrible 
Indian  war  that  so  closely  followed.  Yes,  the  day,  with  all 
its  exciting  scenes,  had  at  length  ended  ;  but  it  had  ended  in 
a  manner  which  was  as  little  anticipated  by  the  movers  of  its 
principal  proceedings  as  it  was  relished  by  them.  Their  ob 
ject  in  the  arrest,  trial,  and  summary  execution  of  the  poor  vic 
timized  red  men,  was  far  less  to  further  the  ends  of  justice, 
than  to  overawe  Philip  and  his  tribe,  and  all  other  tribes 
with  whom  he  might  otherwise  ally  himself  for  hostile  pur 
poses ;  and  at  the  same  time  gratify  the  bitter  prejudices  of 
their  whole  people,  and  impress  them  with  the  desired  ideas 
of  their  own  inflexible  justice,  and  fearlessness  in  executing 
it.  It  was  with  the  originators,  therefore,  what  they  doubt 
less  deemed  a  very  sagacious  political  measure,  especially  de 
vised  to  intimidate  the  apprehended  foe,  and  thus,  to  use  a 
modern  phrase,  to  conquer  a  peace  with  the  dreaded  Philip 
and  his  stubborn  tribe,  which  they  were  conscious  could,  with 
their  own  deliberately  aggressive  policy,  be  in  no  other  man 
ner  obtained.  And  these  astute  managers  evidently  had,  to 
the  end  of  the  trial,  even  in  despite  the  untoward  appearance 
and  effort  of  Roger  Williams,  fully  succeeded  in  keeping  the 
popular  current,  as  before  intimated,  running  strongly  on 
their  side,  as  manifested  in  the  fierce  exultation  of  the  whites, 
and  the  trembling  awe  of  the  praying  and  other  Indians  in 


OS  THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

attendance,  at  the  result  of  the  promptly  conducted  prosecu 
tion.  But  the  execution,  especially  the  hist  act  of  the  revolt- 
ins:  scene,  had  obviously  been  an  overdose  even  for  Bigotry 
herself.  A  reaction  of  feeling  was  beginning  to  take  effect; 
and  doubt  and  apprehension  on  the  white,  and  kindling 
resentment  on  the  Indian  spectators,  were  usurping  the  place 
of  the  defiant  exultations  and  over-weening  conn'denre  of  the 
one,  and  the  abject  fears  of  the  other,  th;it  but  a  few  hours 
before  were  on  all  sides  so  palpably  displayed. 

It  was  of  this  altered  state  of  feeiing  in  the  mingled  crowd, 
that  the  sagacious  Philip,  who  had  been  an  unseen  spectator 
of  the  whole  scene,  and  whose  discriminating  eye  had  detected 
the  change  of  the  moral  current,  had  suddenly  resolved  to 
take  the  advantage  by  boldly  showing  himself,  and  m;ike  a 
speech  intended  no  less  for  effect  on  his  own  recreant  subjects 
present,  than  on  the  superstitious  and  bigot  blind  followers  of 
the  court  of  Plymouth.  And  he  had  counted  not  in  vain. 
His  bold  and  skillful  effort,  falling,  as  it  did,  on  the  doubtful 
and  fluctuating  feelings  of  the  crowd,  had  brought  the  gather 
ing  tide  against  him  at  least  to  an  ebb.  And  the  work  which 
he  had  so  successfully  begun  seemed  to  receive  a  finishing 
blow  in  the  fiery  and  fearful  words  of  the  wrongs-treasuring 
Wetamoo,  whose  weirdlike  foretokening  of  blood  and  desola 
tion  fell  on  ears  and  hearts  too  deeply  impressed  with  the  wild 
superstitions  of  the  times  to  resist  the  spell  of  fear  and  fore 
boding,  which  those  words  were  so  well  calculated  to  throw 
over  them. 

Thus  did  the  outgeneraling  chief  turn  the  arms  of  the 
court  of  Plymouth  against  themselves,  in  all  that  related  to 
the  effect  counted  on  from  their  measure,  as  was  abundantly 
shown,  not  only  by  the  silent,  thoughtful,  and  strangely  altered 
manner  in  which  the  mingled  assemblage  dispersed  that  night, 
but  by  the  general  panic  that  immediately  followed  among  the 
whites,  and  the  disappearance  of  large  numbers  of  recreant  or 


OBJECTIONS   ANSWERED.  69 

praying  Indians,  who  were  found  flocking  to  the  standard  of 
their  old  master,  now,  for  the  first  time,  thrown  defiantly  on 
the  breeze. 

"But,  can  this" — here,  perhaps,  asks  the  surprised  and 
doubting  reader,  whose  ears,  from  his  youth  upwards,  have 
been  continually  regaled  with  the  unqualified,  stereotyped 
laudations  of  the  intelligence  and  exalted  virtues  of  the  Pil 
grim  Fathers,  which,  almost  from  time  immemorial,  have  been 
one  of  the  accepted  droppings  of  the  pulpit,  and  otie  of  the 
staple  themes  of  Fourth  of  July  and  Pilgrim-day  rostrums— 
"can  this  be  a  truthful  picture  of  the  treatment  and  policy 
of  the  colonists  towards  the  Indians,  or  those  of  them,  at  leasf, 
who  declined  to  p;irt  with  their  tribal  independence?  Can  it 
be  any  thing  like  a  fair  representation  of  the  proceedings  of 
one  of  the  courts  of  justice  of  that  day  ?  And,  finally,  can  it 
place  in  a  true  light  the  hitherto  unquestioned  religious  cha 
racter  of  the  rulers  and  chief  actors  in  the  public  affairs  of 
that  peculiar  era  ?" 

We  hope  not,  doubting  reader;  for  the  credit  of  our  fore 
fathers,  we  really  hope  it  is  an  exaggerated  picture,  or  at  least 
one  of  a  very  limited  application.  But  till  you  shall  have 
traveled  back  with  us,  and,  unbiased  by  ail  pre-conceived 
opinions,  have  carefully  examined  the  records  of  those  times, 
taken  all  the  facts  and  circumstances  stated  and  admitted  by 
cotemporary  writers,  and,  rejecting  all  modern  eulogistic  or 
palliating  commentaries,  have  drawn  for  yourself  all  the  fairly 
deducible  inferences — till  you  have  done  this,  and  convinced 
us  and  yourself,  by  that  only  safe  process  of  arriving  at  the 
truth,  that  our  picture  is  an  unwarranted  and  improbable  one, 
we  must  let  it  stand,  and  bear  the  responsibility  of  its  general 
truthfulness. 

The  great  mistake  of  the  pilgrim  fathers  consisted  in 
making  the  civil  rule  subservient  to  the  ecclesiastical.  This, 
from  the  very  nature  of  the  case,  ever  has  led,  and  ever  must 


70  THE   BOOMED   CHIEF. 

lead,  to  grave  errors  in  the  administration  of  justice,  and  fatal 
mis-steps  in  governmental  policy;  for  the  lenders  of  the 
church  less  often  attain  their  positions  of  influence  by  the 
capacities  which  would  qualify  them  to  become  advisers  and 
dictators  in  civil  proceedings,  than  by  the  mere  fervor  of 
their  religious  enthusiasm  ;  and  their  counsels,  consequently, 
must  ever  be  unsafe,  and,  however  honestly  intended,  not 
Infrequently  lead  to  measures  productive  of  public  mischief 
or  individual  wrong.  This  placing  of  the  civil  power  under 
church  control  would  have  been  less  dangerous,  doubtless,  if 
the  church  had  been  built  up  on  the  best  principles  for. in 
suring  its  purity.  But  this  could  not  have  been  so  here ;  for 
here,  again,  the  pilgrim  fathers  fell  into  another  error,  which 
must  often  have  been  as  injurious  to  the  interests  of  true 
religion,  as  it  was  unsafe  in  the  administration  of  civil  autho 
rity.  They  had  established  the  rule,  that  no  man  should  hold 
any  office  unless  he  was  a  member  of  the  church.  If  human 
nature  was  the  same  then  as  now,  this  was  virtually  offering  a 
reward  for  hypocrisy,  under  which  all  the  most  cunning,  cal 
culating,  and  ambitious,  without  any  reference  to  their  secret 
feelings  or  belief,  would  go  through  the  forms  of  a  profession, 
and  rush  into  the  church.  And  the  same  unscrupulous  ambi 
tion  and  lack  of  principle  that  had  induced  them  to  seek 
admission  into  the  sacred  fold,  would,  when  they  got  there, 
induce  them  to  strive  for  posts  of  influence,  where  they  could 
control  the  sincere  and  undiscerning,  and,  through  the  power 
thus  obtained,  subserve  their  own  wicked  or  selfish  purposes 
at  the  expense  of  private  right  and  public  welfare. 

Under  all  these  circumstances,  therefore,  why  should  it  be 
thought  strange  or  improbable  to  find  in  control,  at  times,  that 
class  of  men  of  whom  we  have  made  Deacon  Mudgridge  the 
representative,  or  that  the  latter  should  find  ready  instruments 
in  another  and  entirely  honest  class,  represented  by  the  sincere 
but  zeal-blinded  Duminer,  and  still  more  ready  tools  in  yet 


RESEMBLANCE    OP   PILGRIMS    TO   JEWS.  71 

another,  and  the  most  despicable  class  of  all,  represented  try 
the  pliant  and  unscrupulous  Dick  Swain  ? 

The  pilgrims  closely  resembled  the  Jews,  whom  they 
avowedly  copied.  But  it  should  be  said  of  both,  that,  with 
all  their  faults,  the  severe  physical  training  they  imposed  upor 
themselves,  and  the  high  moral  energies  they  cultivated,  were 
admirably  calculated  to  make  nurseries  of  men  destined  tc 
found  great  and  powerful  nations.  The  training  of  Moses 
made  the  soldiers  of  Joshua  and  David,  whose  achievements- 
resulted  in  the  establishment  of  the  splendid  empire  of  Solo 
mon  ]  and  the  training  of  the  pilgrims  made  the  soldiers  of 
our  revolution,  and  their  achievements  have  also  resulted; 
under  a  more  diffused  intelligence,  and  modified  and  more 
correct  views  of  the  offices  and  requirements  of  religion,  in 
the  still  more  splendid  and  beneficent  fabric  of  our  present 
American  liberty. 

With  these  remarks,  intended  to  meet  the  scruples  of  the 
doubters  at  the  threshold,  and  apprise  all  that  we  do  not  in 
tend  to  follow  the  beaten  track  any  farther  than  we  think  i* 
leads  to  truth  and  justice,  we  will  return  to  the  thread  of  our 
narrative. 


THE  DOOMED  CHIEF. 


CHAPTER    IV. 

"His  virtues  being  overdone,  his  face 
Too  grave,  his  prayers  too  long,  his  charities 
Too  pompously  attended,  and  his  speech 
Larded  too  frequently,  and  out  of  time, 
With  serious  phraseology, — were  rents 
That  in  his  garments  opened  in  spite  of  him, 
Through  which  the  well  accustomed  eye  could  see 
The  rottenness  of  his  heart." 

POLLOCK'S  HYPOCRITE. 

NlGHT  had  now  cast  its  sable  mantle  over  the  earth,  and  the 
tumults  of  the  day  and  the  strong  passions  of  human  throngs 
had  subsided  in  the  darkness.  But  soon  the  great,  round 
moon  catne  rolling  up  from  behind  the  seemingly  long,  watery 
mound  that  bounded  the  sea-ward  limits  of  the  scene  ;  and 
anon  the  whole  extended  view  of  land  and  waters,  first  gradu 
ally  disclosed  in  the  clustering  pencils  of  her  mellow  beams, 
shooting  athwart  the  broad  expanse  of  the  sleeping  bay,  and 
then  tipping  with  silvered  fringes  the  varied  objects  of  the 
surrounding  shore,  stood  revealed  in  all  the  solemn  splendors 
of  a  moon-lit  land-scape. 

Perhaps  there  is  no  scene  or  situation  that  so  much  disarms 
us  of  the  promptings  of  selfish  or  evil  inclinations,  and  dis 
poses  up  to  pensive  contemplation,  as  that  in  which  we  find 
ourselves,  when  looking  abroad  in  a  bright  moonlight  night 
We  feel  that  it,  is  neither  night  nor  day,  and  while  we  are 
tempted  to  forego  the  mental  quiescence  of  the  one,  we  are 
restrained  from  pondering  the  agitating  schemes  of  the  other, 
partly,  it  may  be,  from  the  conscious  uselessness  of  then  nerv- 


MOONLIGHT   SCENE.  73 

ing  ourselves  for  any  action,  but  more,  we  believe,  from  the 
mysteriously  softening  and  benign  influences  of.  the  hour 
And  that  gravely  humorous  bard,  who  penned  the  couplet ; — 

— "  then  rose  full  soon 
That  patroness  of  rogues  the  moon," 

fouly  libeled  the  character  of  the  amiable  queen  of  night. 

Her  patronage  is  not  sought  by  the  prowling  felon  and  evil 
doer,  who  love  darkness,  but  by  the  lover  and  sentimentalist, 
who  delight  to  appropriate  her  propitious  influences.  Job 
speaks  of  the  sweet  influences  of  the  pleiades,  hut  if  any  01 
the  heavenly  bodies  possess  and  exert  any  such  properties  OD 
the  human  family,  the  moon,  we  think,  is  clearly  entitled  to 
the  pre-eminence.  And  if,  under  her  sober  and  quiet  dispen 
sation,  the  thoughts  of  the  imaginative  and  superstitious 
sometimes  take  flights  not  warranted  by  reason,  or  shape 
themselves  into  distempered  fancies,  it  would  hardly  be  fair 
to  hold  her  chargeable  for  their  vagaries. 

The  same  bright  luminary,  which  had  thus  brought  into 
beautified  prospect  the  varied  features  of  the  landscape,  also 
brought  into  view  scores  of  the  good  people  of  Plymouth, 
who,  tempted  by  the  beauty  of  the  evening,  and  moved  with 
an  uneasiness  and  concern  that  led  them  to  seek  companion 
ship  for  an  interchange  of  opinions,  had  left  their  houses  and 
gone  into  the  streets.  And  here  they  were  seen  standing  in 
scattered  groups  around  the  open  doors,  in  the  yards,  or  in 
the  road-ways,  discussing,  with  subdued  demeanors,  and  low, 
suppressed  tones,  the  incidents  of  the  day,  and  the  consequen 
ces  which  might  flow  from  them.  From  the  anxious  and 
disturbed  manner  and  tones  every  where  observable  among 
both  speakers  and  listeners,  the  fact  became  obvious  that  a 
general  feeling  of  doubt  and  perplexity  had  fallen  on  the 
people  ;  and  that  the  boasted  measure  of  their  rulers,  which 
had  that  day  been  consummated,  and  from  which  £0  much 
had  been  promised  and  predicted,  towards  intimidating  King 


<4  THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

Philip  and  his  tribe,  was  not  only  felt  to  have  proved  a  failure, 
but  that  what  had  been  done  would  be  likely  to  hasten  on  the 
menaced  evil.  Mingling  with  the  rest  of  one  of  the  princi 
pal  groups  thus  assembled  in  the  streets,  were  again  found 
most  of  the  personages  who  were  introduced  in  the  opening 
scene  of  the  day ;  and  among  them  stood  the  gab-gifted  Shadow, 
holding  forth  in  his  usual  strain,  but  with  words  particularly 
intended  for  those  who  had  been  timidly  giving-  open  expres 
sion  to  the  general  feeling  of  doubt  and  apprehension,  now 
become  too  irrepressible  to  be  longer  concealed. 

"  It  is,"  said  he, — "  it  is  from  the  sins  of  the  people,  and  our 
lack  of  duty-doing  courage  to  wash  our  hands  of  them,  by  fit 
ting  and  acceptable  acts  of  expiation,  that  we  have  only  to 
fear.  Every  day  I  behold  doings  that  will  make  us  to 
stink  in  the  nostrils  of  heaven.  Every  day  mine  eyes  are 
pained  with  sights  among  old  and  young,  that  proclaim  us  in 
a  loud  voice — yea,  in  the  voice  of  many  thunders,  to  be  a 
perverse  and  sinful  generation.  Our  women  are  seen  decked 
with  vain  ornaments.  Our  young  men  and  maidens  are  seen 
familiarly  walking  together  in  the  streets  in  open  day,  or  rid 
ing,  side  by  side,  into  the  country  for  vain  recreations,  after  the 
manner  of  the  carnal  minded  and  uncircumcised.  The  holy 
Sabbath  is  desecrated  in  our  midst  by  cooking  victuals,  and  sec 
ular  conversation  on  that  sacred  day.  The  land  has  become 
full  of  heresies  and  abominable  doctrines.  And  even  we  of  the 
household  of  faith,  I  greatly  fear  me,  have  erred  and  done  fool 
ishly  in  that  we  have  not  frowned  upon,  and  put  a  stop  to 
these  loose  doings  of  the  people ;  and  especially  in  that  we 
have  not  put  down  with  the  arm  of  the  law,  sanctified  and 
made  strong  by  the  orderings  of  the  Church,  the  damnable 
heresies  of  the  Quakers,  and  other  schismatics,  as  we  formerly 
did,  and  as  the  law  even  now  commands  us  to  do.  Yea,  I 
greatly  fear  we  have  erred  and  gone  astray  by  our  want  of 
faithfulness  and  mistaken  omissions  of  duty,  to  wipe  away  the 


DISCUSSIONS.  75 

reproach  brought  upon  us  by  these  abominations.  But  there  is 
now  great  reason  to  hope  that  our  skirts  will  soon  become  cleared 
of  the  sin  of  our  remissness.  We  have  this  day  made  mani 
fest  our  determination  to  avoid  and  avert  from  our  guilty  land 
the  curse  that  fell  on  Saul  for  sparing  the  heathen,  Amalekit- 
Lsh  Agag,  whom  God  had  ordered  his  people  to  destroy.  We 
have  this  day  executed  vengeance  on  three  worse  heathen 
than  the  idolatrous  followers  of  Agag,  wherein  our  modern 
Agag  of  the  wilderness  will  be  made  to  fear  and  trouble." 

<l  He  did  not  appear  to  fear  and  tremble  much  to-day, 
methouirht,  when  he  appeared  before  the  whole  court  and  peo 
ple,  at  the  close  of  the  execution,  and  so  boldly  told  them 
what  they  might  expect  from  what  they  had  done,"  carelessly 
remarked  Vane  Willis,  the  successful  young  marksman,  before 
introduced,  who  seemed  to  have  been  listening  rather  impa 
tiently  to  the  Shadow's  notions  of  duty  and  way  of  carrying 
them  out. 

<;  The  young  man  mistakes  the  manifestations,"  rejoined 
Dummer.  "  The  scourging  of  Sathana  will  make  him  to  rave 
and  howl,  and  the  more  he  raves  and  howls,  the  stronger  the 
token  that  he  hath  been  hit  and  balked  in  his  devilish  designs. 
Now,  /  look  upon  the  chafirigs  and  raging  of  that  audacious 
Sachem,  and  that  she  devil  and  heathen  sorceress  he  brought 
with  him,  to  alarm  us  with  false  prophecy,  as  a  sure  sign  that 
our  wise  and  fearless  rulers  have  done  that  which  has  struck 
him  in  a  vital  part.  It  is  a  good  omen,  brethren.  This  chaf 
ing  child  of  Sathana,  as  he  clearly  is,  may  rage  awhile,  but  he 
will  soon  slink  back  to  his  place;  and  we  shall  hear  no  more 
of  him,  or  his  rebellions.  And  this  1  know,  is  Deacon  Mud- 
gridge's  opinion." 

So  saying,  the  self-satisfied  zealot  turned  and  walked  off  to 
the  residence  of  his  oracle,  the  important  personage  whose 
opinion  he  had  just  quoted  as  something  too  infallible  e 7er  to 


76  THE  DOOMED   CHIEF. 

be  gainsayed  or  questioned,  leaving  the  rest  of  the  company 
to  resume  their  discussion. 

"  Da  turner  is  a  man  of  great  faith/'  observed  one  of  the 
more  thinking  and  discreet  of  the  group,  after  the  subject  of 
his  remark  had  got,  out  of  hearing;  "and  I  hope  his  predic 
tions  about  the  effect  and  consequence  of  this  day's  work  will 
prove  true  ones.  But — " 

"  But  what  ?"  interposed  Sniffkin,  the  aristocratic  young 
court  lackey  of  the  opening  scene  of  the  story — "  but  what, 
sir?  .Mr.  Dummer  is  undoubtedly  right.  The  court  acted 
wisely,  and  knew  what  they  were  about  when  they  started  this 
measure.  It  was  a  grand  stroke  of  policy  j  and  what  is  bet 
ter,  they  have  carried  it  to  the  end  in  a  manner  well  calcu 
lated  to  ensure  the  object.  And  the  effect  on  the  damned 
Sachem  will  be  just  what  Dummer  predicts.  I  am  confident 
of  it." 

"  If  you  knew  better  what  stuff  Metacom  was  made  of,  you 
might  be  a  trifle  less  confident,  perhaps/'  responded  Willis, 
quietly. 

"  It  is  quite  consistent,"  retorted  Sniffkin.  contemptuously, 
without  turning  to  the  speaker — ''consistent,  and  to  be  ex 
pected,  that  a  fellow  who  showed  so  much  sympathy  for  the 
guilty  heathen  before  their  tri;il,  and  then  at  the  trial  assisted 
a  noted  heretic  to  thwart  justice  and  get  them  clear,  should 
now  try  to  destroy  the  effect  of  the  wholesome  example  of  a 
result  he  wished  to  prevent.  If  Mr.  Dummer,  whose  face  is 
set  like  a  flint  against  scoffers,  and  all  those  who  consort  with 
heathens  and  heretics,  had  known  the  fellow  he  spoke  to.  his 
just  rebuke  would  not  have  been  quite  so  mild  a  one,  1  fancy. 
I  think  some  folks  had  better  look  out,  lest  they  soon  find 
their  feet  on  slippery  places." 

"I  think  so,  too,"  chimed  in  Dick  Swain,  still  smarting 
under  the  remembrance  of  the  hazardous  dilemma  in  which  he 
believed  Willis  had  assisted  Williams  to  place  him  at  the 


DISCUSSION   CONTINUED.  77 

trial.  "I  thinlr  just  so  myself ;  for  now  the  guilty  hen'hen 
dogs  are  disposed  of,  the  Quakers  and  heretics,  I  understand, 
are  to  have  their  turn  next." 

11  And  hypocrites,  knaves,  and  fools  are  then  to  have  their 
own  way  without  let  or  hindrance,  I  suppose,"  rejoined  the 
marksman,  with  an  air  of  Undisguised  disdain,  as  lie  whirled 
on  his  heel,  and  left  the  group,  on  his  way  up  the  street. 

"  Dog  him,  Dick,"  whispered  Sniffkin,  into  the  ear  of  the 
other,  pointing  after  his  retiring  rival  j  "  dog  him  ;  see  where 
he  goes.  And  as  matters  now  appear  to  be  in  a  good  shape 
to  leave,  I  will  go  home." 

The  two  last  named  persons  then  departed  on  their  different 
destinations,  leaving  the  rest  of  the  company  to  continue  the 
discussion  unbiased  by  the  words  or  presence  of  either  of  the 
contending  parties,  to  whom  they  had  been  listening. 

"  I  am  afraid/'  at  length  remarked  the  man  who  had  ven 
tured  to  intimate  some  doubts  respecting  Du miner's  confident 
assurances.  u  I  am  afraid  that  young  man,  though  rather 
rough  and  irreverent,  perhaps,  towards  Mr.  Sniffkin  and  Dick 
Swain,  is  right  in  what  he  evidently  believes  will  be  the  con 
sequence  of  hanging  these  Indians.  I  am  afraid  our  rulers 
have  been  a  little  too  fast." 

"  And  so  am  I,"  responded  another,  who  had  also  been 
smothering  his  convictions.  "  I  didn't  think  so  much  of  it 
till  I  heard  King  Philip,  standing  up  there  so  calm  and  dig 
nified  like,  te  1  over  how  he  had  intended  to  keep  peace,  and 
then  come  out  so  bold  and  square  for  war  at  last,  on  account 
of  what  he  had  seen  there  to-day.  I  couldn't  help  thinking 
that  there  was  something  kinder  reasonable  in  what  he  said  j 
and  then  to  hear  the  Indian  woman,  who  is,  like  enough,  a 
witch,  as  Mr.  Dummer  says,  and  can  foretell  things,  to  hear 
her  curse  and  prophesy  !  Why,  it  enymost  made  my  hair 
Btand  up  on  my  head  !" 

Others,  now  all  restraints  on  giving  free  utterance  to  their 


78  THE   DOOMED   CHIE?. 

feelings  were  removed,  were  beginning,  all  at  once,  to  give  ex 
pression  to  the  boding  fears  with  which  their  minds  were  also 
laboring;  when  they  were  cut  short  by  the  sudden  appearance 
of  a  man  running  towards  them  from  another  group  that  had 
been  standing  at  some  distance,  and  in  a  more  open  part  of  the 
street. 

tl  Have  you  seen  the  great  mystery  ?"  lie  almost  breathlessly 
exclaimed  ;  "  have  you  here  noticed  the  strange  appearance  of 
the  moon  to-night?" 

"  No,  what  is  it  ?  what  is  it  ?"  eagerly  demanded  a  dozen 
excited  voices. 

"  Here,  come  to  this  open  place,  you  can  see  it  between  the 
houses — there,"  continued  the  herald  of  the  strange  tidings,  as 
the  others  all  now  rushed  to  the  spot,  "  there,  only  look  there, 
a  blood-stained  human  scalp,  right  in  the  middle  of  the 
moon  !" 

All  eyes  followed  the  eagerly  pointed  finger,  till  they  rested 
on  the  innocent  face  of  the  luminary  that  had  so  suddenly  be 
come  an  object  of  suspicious  interest;  when,  surely  enough, 
a  scalp  seemed,  to  their  startled  and  distorted  visions,  to  have 
grown  out  of  that  scraggy,  opake  spot  in  the  moon  which  has 
so  often  attracted  the  eyes  of  wondering  childhood,  at  all 
times,  but  which  now,  owing  to  the  peculiar  state  of  the  at 
mosphere,  was  seen  marked  and  defined  with  unusual  distinct 
ness.  First  one,  then  another,  and  then  all,  assisted  by 
their  excited  imaginations,  recognized  the  shape  and  appear 
ance  of  that  horrid  token  of  savage  ferocity,  and  unanimously 
proclaimed  it  an  omen  of  coming  war,  which  could  no  longer 
be  mistaken.  But  they  were  not  to  be  required  to  rely  alone 
on  the  evidence  of  this  monstrous  prefiguration  for  proof  of  the 
near  approach  of  such  a  calamitous  event.  In  a  few  moments 
the  amazed  and  shuddering  gazers  were  aroused  by  the  sounds 
of  multitudinous  footfalls  ;  and  turning,  they  saw  a  dusty  horse 
man,  with  a  mingled  crowd  of  excited  men  arid  boys  hurrying 


PORTENTS    OF    WAR.  79 

along,  behind,  and  on  eacli  side  of  him,  in  full  march  towards 
them. 

"  News,  news  !"  shouted  a  man,  who  now  started  forward  in 
advance  of  the  rest  of  the  new  comers  by  way  of  heralding 
their  approach  ;  u  great  news  from  the  other  colony  !  Here  is 
a  man  straight  from  Boston.  Form  a  ring,  form  a  ring,  and 
then  we  can  all  hear  him  relate  the  strange  tidings  he  brings 
us." 

A  ring  was  accordingly  formed,  and  the  news-monger, 
still  sitting  on  his  horse,  proceeded  to  relate  to  the  gaping 
crowd,  how,  one  or  two  days  before,  "  in  a  clear,  still,  sun 
shiny  morning,  there  were  divers  persons  in  Maldon,  who 
heard  in  the  air,  on  the  south-east  of  them,  a  great  gun  go  off, 
and  presently  thereupon,  the  report  of  small  guns,  like  mus 
ket  shot,  very  thick  discharging,  as  if  there  had  been  a  battle." 
In  another  town,  the  people  had  been  astonished  by  "  the  flying 
of  bullets,  which  came  singing  over  their  heads  •  after  which 
the  sound  of  drums,  passing  along  west-ward  was  very  audi 
ble."  And  in  several  other  places,  invisible  troops  of  horses 
were  heard  riding  to  and  fro,  like  squadrons  charging  in  hos 
tile  conflict.* 

Great  was  the  fear  and  perplexity  that  fell  on  the  minds 
of  the  crowd  as  they  listened  to  the  narration  of  these  prodi 
gies,  which,  with  the  one  they  themselves  had  just  witnessed 
they  all,  wkh  one  accord,  and  without  one  thought  of  attempt 
ing  to  account  for  them  on  natural  principles,  set  down  as  un 
mistakably  portents  of  war.  And  thinkingof  their  wives  and  chil 
dren,  in  their  agitation  and  dismay,  th^ey  immediately  broke  up, 
and  hurried  to  their  homes,  as  if  the  dreadful  tomahawk  might 
be  already  busy  there  in  the  work  of  death. 

But,  while  these  things  were  thus  agitating,  with  doubts 
and  fears,  the  common  people  without,  there  was  one  within 

*  See  Cotton  Mather's  Magualia  for  the  prodigies  hero  related  as  tho  pro- 
•ursors  of  King  Philip's  war. 


80  THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

doors  thnt  evening,  who,  wrapt  in  Ms  own  self-sufficiency, 
was  never  more  assured  and  exultant  in  his  life;  arid  that  one 
was  the  chief  mover,  and  the  most  active  participator  in  the 
events  of  the  pist  day — the  untirinj:  Deacon  Mudgridge,  to 
whose  affectedly  plain,  but  really  very  costly  mansion,  we  will 
now  take  the  reader. 

The  Deacon,  having  finished  his  supper,  and  visited  his 
private  cupboard  for  that  little  addition  to  creature  comforts, 
which  he  occasionally  took  just  "for  stomach's  sake,"  had  re 
paired  to  his  usual  sitting  room,  where  he  was  accustomed  to 
receive  the  numerous  calls  of  those  daily  coming  to  consult 
him  on  matters  of  church  and  state  ;  for  so  important  in  the 
public  mind  had  his  opinions  become,  that  few  things  of  any 
moment,  in  either,  were  undertaken  without  his  advice  or 
concurrence.  Me  was  now  slowly  pacing  his  room  and  solilo 
quizing  half  aloud,  in  that  kind  of  strange  jumble  of  prayer 
and  self-gratulation,  to  which  the  scathing  genius  of  Burns 
subsequently  gave  form,  and  habitation  in  tl  Holy  Willie,"  and 
his  prayer — 

"  0  Lord,  I  bless  thy  matchless  might, 
When  thousands  thou  hnst  left  in  night, 
That  I  arn  here  before  thy  fight, 

For  gifts  an'  grace, 
A  burnin'  an'  a  shinin'  light, 

To  a'  the  place." 

"  Ay,  here,  firm  as  a  rock,  while  others  faint,  or  would  suc 
cumb  to  the  powers  of  darkness.  And  then  the  great  matter 
of  this  day — Lord,  I  bless  thee  for  carrying  me  through  it, 
and  exalting  my  horn  in  that  thou  hast  given  me  the  tri 
umph — (Well,  I  think  they  will  see,  now,  that  but  for  me, 
the  heathen  had  never  been  thus  signally  chastised  and  dis 
comfited,  to  the  saving  of  the  people  and  the  glory  of  God. 
But  that  accursed  schismatic  Williams  !  verily,  I  did  not 
know,  one  while,  how  the  thing  would  befal.)  Yet  'thou, 


VISIT    OP   THE    SHADOW.  81 

Lord,  didst  rebuke  my  want  of  faith  by  giving  me  the  vic 
tory.  Nevertheless,  Lord,  do  not  let  that  vile  man  come  be 
tween  me  and  thy  helping  hand  again,  lest,  perad venture,  the 
people  in  their  weakness  be  led  away  by  him.  Lord,  put  thy 
hand  upon  him,  and  all  thine  enemies,  and  continue  to  build 
up  thy  servant,  whom  thou  hast  so  much  blest,  and  particu 
larly  aid  and  assist  him  by  thine  ordering*,  in  that  other 
matter  which  thou  knowest  he  has  in  mind  to  see  perfected, 
and — " 

A  gentle  rap,  rap,  on  the  outside  of  the  door  opening  from 
the  street  into  the  apartment,  here  interrupted  the  Deacon, 
and  quickly  assuming  the  meekly  wise  and  sanctimonious  air, 
which  he  usually  wore  in  public,  he  responded — 

"  Peace  be  with  you  '  come  in." 

The  door  opened,  and  the  Shadow  meekly  entered. 

"  Well  pleased  at  thy  coming,  friend  Dummer,  inasmuch 
as  it  gives  me  opportunity  to  thank  and  congratulate  thee  on 
thy  faithful  and  opportune  public  services,  during  the  day 
just  brought  to  such  a  triumphant  close." 

"  I  did  not  come  expecting  such  praise,  Deacon  Mudgridge, 
and  I  greatly  fear  me,  I  do  not  deserve  it.  I  feel  myself  but 
a  poor  w«>ak  vessel,  Deacon  Mudgridge." 

"  And  therein  consisteth  your  strength,  because  it  maketh 
you  to  lean  directly  on  the  Lord,  who  turneth  trusting  weak 
ness  into  a  strength  to  the  overcoming  of  the  children  of  Be 
lial.  Your  prayers,  to-day,  friend  Dummer,  were  full  of  holy 
power,  and  had  an  extraordinary  adaptedness." 

"  I  will  not  try  to  disguise  how  much  it  pleaseth  my  heart 
to  hear  such  words  from  one  who  hath  it  in  his  power  to  ad 
vance  those  who  are  found  worthy,  to  posts  of  greater  useful 
ness  in  the  Lord's  household  ;  and  I  have  sometimes  thought 
that  if—" 

"  Ay — ay — I  know,  and  it  shall  be  brought  about  speedily, 
6 


82  TITE    DOOMED    CHIEF. 

friend  Dummer.  But  how  do  men  say  7  acquitted  myself,  to 
day,  against  the  adverse  powers  brought  against  me?" 

"  With  admirable  wisdom  ;  and  it  was  of  that  I  principally 
came  to  congratulate  thee  \  and  I  think  we  of  the  household 
of  faith  ought  all  to  feel  great  and  exceeding  gratitude,  that 
we  have  such  a  buckler  and  shield  to  ward  off  the  arrows  of 
Sathana,  whose  presence  methought  was  never  more  visible 
than  to-day." 

"  Your  last  remark  shows  you  to  be  a  man  of  discernment, 
friend  Dummer.  You  are  verily  right  about  the  devilish 
manifestations  of  to-day,  especially  in  the  untoward  coming, 
and  through  all  the  subtle  managings  and  arguings  of  that 
man  of  sin,  the  schismatic  and  dangerous  Williams." 

"Yea,  truly;  but  then,  with  what  astonishing  quickness 
and  power  you  met  his  devices,  and  overwhelmed  him  at  every 
point,  Deacon  ?" 

"  Ay,  you  must  bear  in  mind  I  am  an  old  soldier  in  the 
Church  Militant,  friend  Dummer.  I  saw  from  the  first  mo 
ment  of  the  trial,  from  tokens  well  known  to  me,  that  Sathan 
had  come  up  to  defeat  us,  and  was  already  busy  with  his  in 
visible  instigations,  at  the  ear  of  Williams,  as  was  another  I 
could  name.  But  arming  myself  in  the  panoply  of  prayer  and 
divine  promptings,  I  followed  the  old  sarpent  in  all  his  doub 
lings  and  windings,  and  think,  as  you  say,  that  I  completely 
circumvented  him  at  every  point,  and  carried  the  battle  glo 
riously  ;  yea,  even  unto  the  righteous  termination  thereof.  But 
not  mine  the  praise — not  mine  the  glory,  friend  Dummer." 

"Truly  not,  Deacon  Mudgridge  ;  but  then  we  cannot  help 
admiring  the  chosen  and  honored  instrument  of  such  achieved 
glories,  whereby  both  church  and  state  were  crowned,  as  to-day, 
with  righteous  judgment  unto  the  manifest  averting  of  cal 
amities." 

"Thus  much  I  don't  know  that  I  should  try  to  prevent, 
friend  Dummer.  But  did  you  perceive  anything  in  the  goings 


CONVERSATION    OP   THE   BIGOTS.  83 

on  at  the  execution,  betoking  to  your  mind  the  presence  of 
Sathan  there  also  1" 

11  Verily  I  did  think  I  perceived  his  promptings  in  the  ra 
vings  of  the  audacious  Sachem,  and  moreover  in  the  f;ilse 
prophecies  and  vile  cursings  of  the  red  sorceress,  as  I  think 
she  must  be,  who  was  with  him,  at  their  mysterious  corning. 
Yea,  I  did  perceive  tokens  of  his  presence,  and  have  already 
asserted  it,  in  my  laborings  with  the  people,  in  the  street,  this 
very  evening." 

"  You  did  right,  both  in  the  assertions,  and  in  your  labor- 
ings,  which,  as  I  suggested,  when  we  left  the  scene,  seemed  to 
be  required  to  calm,  and  put  confidence  into  the  minds  of  the 
people,  who,  through  their  weakness,  were,  I  perceived,  troubled 
with  some  misgivings.  But  you  might  have  gone  further  and 
pointed  out  to  them  the  marvel  of  the  breaking  of  the  rope, 
when  the  last  of  the  damnable  trio  was  swung  off;  for  what 
but  Sathan's  own  hand  could  have  sundered  that  strong,  new 
rope  ?  Nothing.  It  was  scorched  and  made  rotten  by  the  hot 
gr;isp  of  his  fiery  fingers.  But  you  saw  that  1  did  not  allow 
his  cunning  device  to  serve  him  •  for  the  young  imp,  he  had 
thought  thus  to  save,  as  soon  as  we  had  got  his  confession,  was 
sent  to  hellward  almost  as  quick  as  his  accursed  companions. 
Yea,  I  saw  all  that  clearly  ;  and  when  the  impudent  Sachem 
and  his  she  confederate  so  strangely  appeared  up  there,  as  if  they 
had  been  transported  to  the  spot  through  the  air  by  the  taking 
of  one  under  each  arm,  methought  I  could  distinctly  see  him 
standing  bodily,  in  the  shape  of  the  great  Apollyon  himself, 
leaning  over  from  behind  them,  and  grinning  and  gibbering 
into  their  ears.  It  was  then  I  gave  the  order  to  the  soldiers 
to  fire,  and  had  they  done  so  quick  enough,  the  Sachem  had 
died;  since  I  had  breathed  a  hasty  blessing  on  the  undis 
charged  bullets.  And  I  an't  so  sure  but  the  infernal  prompter 
himself  would  have  been  grievously  wounded." 

"  These  things  are  truly  marvelous,  Deacon,  and  fill   me 


84  THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

with  amazement  at  your  penetrating  ability.  But  do  you 
think  we  have  done  all  we  must  do,  in  the  purging  out  of 
diabolisms  and  heresies  in  the  land,  before  the  Lord  will  fully 
accept  us  and  make  us  to  be  wholly  victorious  over  our 
enemies  '(" 

"  No,  of  a  verity  we  have  riot 5  and  it  rejoiceth  me  exceed 
ingly  to  find  one  at  least,  who,  like  you,  seems  to  have  a  just 
and  holy  sense  of  what  is  required  of  the  church  and  rulers 
in  these  times  of  evil  omen.  We  must  first  wrestle  mightily 
with  God  by  prayer  and  fastings,  and  at  the  same  time  be 
doing  the  works  of  faith  by  putting  down,  with  a  fearless 
hand,  all  kinds  of  heresies  and  misdoings." 

"  It  is  a  truth,  Deacon  Mudgridge — a  sad  truth,  and  one 
that  should  shame  us  to  be  up  and  doing.  We  are  over  slack 
and  tirnid  in  our  marked  lines  of  duty,  arid  I  concur  with  your 
opinions,  even  unto  the  full  measure  thereof.  Something  must 
be  done;  but  where  do  you  think  it  were  most  expedient  to 
make  the  beginning  of  the  needful  and  wholesome  work  of 
sin-purging  and  acceptable  expiation  ?" 

"On  just  the  like  of  that  dangerous  schismatic,  (and  a  rank 
heretic,  also,  I  doubt  me  not,)  who  made  us  so  much  trouble 
to-day,  whom  I  think  our  rulers  erred  in  admitting  to  speak, 
and  who,  instead,  ought  to  have  been  put  under  arrest  for 
meet  punishment.  But  our  governor,  though  ready  to  put 
down  the  heathen  savages  with  an  iron  hand,  and  with  a  will 
and  courage  that  knows  no  trembling  nor  hesitation,  seems  not 
to  understand  the  devices  of  Satan  and  the  dangerous  work 
ings  of  heresies  on  a  people,  arid  so  is  timid  and  doubtful  in 
these  matters." 

"  Then  you,  Deacon,  must  be  the  man  to  move  in  the 
matter  of  these  crying  abominations." 

"  I  suppose  I  must;  for  duty  is  duty,  and  seeing  wherein  it 
ought  to  be  done,  I  should  not,  it  may  be,  shrink  from  the 


DEACON    MUDGRIDGE   CONDEMNS   QUAKERS.  85 

doing  thereof.  And  you,  brother  Dumnier,  must  take  hold 
with  me." 

"  The  Lord  helping  me,  T  will  not  be  laggard  ;  but  whither 
more  particularly  pointeth  the  finger  of  duty  amonsj  the  mul 
titude  of  offenses  requiring  the  hand  of  correction  ?" 

"  I  have  already  hinted  what  should  be  done  with  those 
steeped  in  damnable  heresies,  like  the  man  Williams  and  his 
confederating  disciples.  There  is  another  class  that  I  consider 
even  more  dangerous — I  mean  that  pestilent  sect  called  Qua 
kers.  There  is  a  law  still  in  force  requiring  the  branding  of 
them — boring  with  hot,  irons  their  tongues,  which  had  uttered 
false  doctrines — whipping  them  from  town  to  town  on  their 
way  to  banishment,  and  the  inflicting  of  the  just  penalty  of 
death  if  they  returned.  That  wholesome  law  was  once  com- 
mendably  executed,  and  the  land  was  blessed  accordingly. 
But,  now,  in  our  guilty  remissness,  it  has  become  but  little 
better  than  a  dead  letter.  Quakers,  and  even  returned  Qua 
kers,  I  grieve  to  say,  walk  among  us  unmolested." 

"  Yea,  Deacon,  I  greatly  fear  this  thing  is  so." 

"  But  what  would  you  say  of  one  who  was  both  heretic  and 
Quaker,  or  at  least  was  deeply  tainted  with  their  abominable 
doctrines  ?" 

"  I  should  say  of  him,  anathema  maranatlia,  and  count  it  a 
God-bounden  duty  to  move  against  him." 

"  And  yet,  such  an  one,  as  I  know,  through  the  praise 
worthy  faithfulness  of  our  trusty,  albeit  sometimes  a  little  ir 
regular  brother,  Dick  Swain,  appeared  in  the  streets  this  very 
morning,  arid  openly  took  sides  with  the  heathen  prisoners, 
and  reviled  our  rulers.  And  then,  tc  add  to  his  contumacy 
and  wicked  intent,  the  fellow  unblushingly  went  to  the  side 
of  Williams,  and  prompted  and  aided  him  through  the  trial, 
in  perverting  the  evidence  unto  the  defeating  of  justice  and 
judgment." 

"  Surely  that  were  a  grievous  offence.     But,  who  is  he  ?" 


88  THE   DOOMED   CJIIEF. 

"  A  youngerly,  but  very  froward  fellow,  called  Vane  Willis, 
from  some  place  out  of  town,  though  often  here,  it  is  thought, 
and  I  fear  with  no  good  design.  In  truth,  I  have  the  most 
painful  surmises,  that  he  is  trying  to  tamper  -with  some  who 
have  been  especially  placed  under  godly  influences,  and  the 
protecting  care  of  the  Christian  household.  You  well  knew  our 
worthy  sister,  in  the  Lord,  the  widgw  Southworth,  who  left  us 
a  few  months  ago  ?" 

"  Surely,  I  did, — a  godly  woman,  eschewing  all  false  doc 
trines,  and  full  of  spiritual  obedience." 

"You  knew,  likewise,"  resumed  the  Deacon,  drawing  near 
the  other,  and  speaking  lower,  u  that  this  family,  on  the  flee 
ing  of  her  unfortunate  husband,  afterwards  slain  by  salvages 
no  doubt,  was  put  under  my  sole  charge  and  guardianship, 
which  I  disch;irged  to  the  great  satisfaction  of  our  duty  do 
ing  sister,  who  always  depended  on  me  for  advice  in  all  that 
related  to  the  spiritual  and  temporal  affairs  of  herself  and  her 
daughter,  now  left  behind  her.  But  that  daughter  is  not 
like  her  mother  in  many  things,  being  more  inclined  to  doubts 
in  some  of  the  matters  of  sound  doctrines,  as  I  have  thought  I 
sometimes  perceived,  and  less  inclined  to  give  ear  to  whole 
some  counsel.  Now  her  mother  and  I  both  labored  to  get 
her  into  the  fold  of  the  church  ;  but  failing  in  that,  we,  at 
length,  fully  agreed  on  betrothing  her  to  my  nephew,  Timothy 
Sniffidn,  for  her  temporal  advantage  and  spiritual  safety,  and 
then,  when  her  mother  was  taken  away,  I  invited  her  to 
take  up  her  residence  at  my  house,  knowing  that  then  she 
would  not  have  there  any  proper  protectors;  but  she  seemed 
strangely  perverse  in  all  these  matters.  Now  I  greatly  fear 
that  this  pestilent  fellow  that  I  spoke  of,  with  whom  she  con 
fesses  to  some  acquaintance,  has  had  some  hand  in  her  per- 
verseness." 

"  Heinous !  how  heinous,  if  so!"  said  the  shocked  Dummer,— 
"I  see, — I  see  the  thoughtless  and  straying  lamb  of  our  flock  is 


PURSUIT   OF   DICK   SWAIN  87 

to  bo  saved  from  the  devouring  wolf.     But,  the  means, — the 
means,   Deacon  ?" 

"  In  my  holy  anxieties,  I  have  pondered  the  thing  dili 
gently,  and  have  hit  upon  a  course.  As  a  first  step,  T  would 
have  you  to-morrow  go  and  labor  with  her,  with  counsel  and 
prayer,  to  induce  her  to  come  into  the  sacred  fold.  Perad 
venture,  with  my  backing,  she  will  listen;  and  the  path  will 
then  be  opened  to  almost  certain  success.  Meanwhile,  we 
must  narrowly  watch  the  base  beguiler.  If  he  is  a  Quaker, 
as  Dick  thinks  it  is  clearly  certain  he  is,  then " 

Sharp  outcries,  and  the  sounds  of  hurrying  footsteps  in 
the  street,  here  cut  short  the  conference  of  these  worthies, 
who,  running  to  the  window,  soon  gathered  from  the  hurry 
ing  passers,  that  a  man,  supposed  to  be  Dick  Swain,  had 
been  seized  by  some  of  King  Philip's  crew,  just  outside  the 
town,  and  carried  off;  when  the  Deacon  and  his  Shadow 
snatched  up  their  hats  and  joined  the  throng  rushing  on  to 
the  rescue. 


TIIE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 


CHAPTER  V. 

"  0  lure  will  venture  in  wbaur  it  daur  na  weel  be  seen." 

THE  alarm  mentioned  at  the  close  of  the  last  chapter,  had 
proceeded  from  the  loud  cry  of  "  Help  I  help!  Indians!  In 
dians!"  heard  rising  from  some  point  in  the  bushy  pine  plain 
swelling  up  from  the  rear  of  the  village.  On  almost  any 
previous  evening,  no  general  alarm  probably  would  have  been 
thus  created  ;  for  the  person  or  persons  hearing  the  outer}', 
would  have  fearlessly  gone  alone  to  the  spot  indicated  by  the 
noise,  to  see  what  was  wanted.  But  on  this  evening,  so 
deeply  excited  and  apprehensive  had  all  classes  become,  from 
witnessing  the  spectacles  of  the  day,  and  hearing  of  the  attend 
ant  omens,  that  those  whose  ears  the  cry  had  reached,  instead 
of  proceeding  to  the  place,  had  turned  and  ran  the  other  way 
into  the  village,  spreading  the  alarm  through  the  streets,  and 
then  facing  round  to  lead  those  whom  they  had  thus  rallied 
out,  to  the  locality  of  the  supposed  trouble.  And  on  rushed 
the  confused  throng, — the  Deacon,  the  Shadow,  and  all,  each 
armed  with  a  musket,  old  sword,  pitchfork,  hoe,  cudgel,  or 
such  other  defensive  implement  as  most  readily  came  to 
hand. 

"  There  !  it  was  somewhere  about  here  that  I  was  passing 
Tfhen  1  heard  the  outcry,  and  the  sound  came  out  from  those 
low  scattering  pines,"  exclaimed  the  man  that  had  led  the 
way,  stopping  in  an  open  field  a  little  beyond  the  last  house 
on  that  border  of  the  village,  and  pointing  to  a  line  of  scat 
tering  bushes  about  forty  rods  ahead. 


RETREAT. 

"Let  us  form  a  line  and  advance  then,"  cried  one  of  the 
more  resolute  of  the  company. 

"  Wouldn't  it  be  meet  on  this  alarming  occasion  first  to 
have  a  prayer?"  asked  the  Shadow,  in  a  quavering  voice,  be 
ginning  to  raise  his  shaking  hands  to  suit  the  action  to  the 
word. 

"  Stay  a  little,  brother  Dummer,"  interposed  Deacon  Mud- 
gridge  ;  "  let  us  first  collect  our  minds  and  reason  together  on 
the  matter.  And  firstly,  is  there  any  certainty  as  to  the  man 
thus  boldly  snatched  from,  our  midst  by  the  audacious  sal 
vages  ?" 

"  Why,  I  thought  to  be  sure,  that  the  voice  sounded  greatly 
like  unto  the  voice  of  Dick  Swain,"  responded  the  man  who 
had  first  spoken. 

"  He  is  right,"  sung  out  Sniffkin,  who  had  prudently 
stopped  some  half  dozen  rods  in  the  background,  but  was  MOW 
venturing  considerably  nearer.  "  He  is  undoubtedly  in  the 
right  about  it,  for  I  have  reason  to  know  myself,  that  Dick 
Swain  is  the  man.  But  it  will  be  of  no  avail  to  go  into  the 
Woods  after  him.  There  is,  like-ly  enough,  at  this  very  moment, 
a  whole  line  of  hostile  Indians  lying  in  ambush  in  yonder 
pines  to  cover  the  retreat  of  the  miscreant  abductors,  who,  no 
doubt,  are  now  far  on  the  way  to  King  Philip's  camp,  and  I 
pretty  well  know  who  is  at  the  head  of  them." 

"  Things  being  so,"  alter  a  lomr  pause,  began  the  Deacon, 
who  seemed  to  comprehend  the  allusions  of  Sniffkin,  and  who 
had  been  casting  about  for  a  decent  excuse  for  backing  out 
himself — "things  being  so,  arid  it  sometimes  being  but  a 
wrongful  tempting  of  Providence  to  rush  into  the  dangers 
where  our  righteous  indignation  would  carry  us,  I  would 
rather  counsel,  lest  we  act  without  due  consideration,  that  we 
all  now  return  to  the  meeting-house  yard,  for  a  more  fitting 
consultation,  wherein  the  conclusion,  peradventure;  may  be 


90  TOE    DOOMED   CHIEF. 

arrived  at  to  recommend  the  calling  out  of  our  brisk  company 
of  armed  troopers." 

This  motion  being  eagerly  seconded  by  the  Shadow  and 
Sniffkin,  was  soon  unanimously  carried,  when  the  crowd,  now 
promptly  led  forward  by  the  last  named  brave  personage,  all 
took  their  way  to  the  meeting  house,  many  of  them  evidently 
breathing  much  easier  than  when  on  their  outward  march  to 
wards  the  suspicious  thickets  where  the  luckless  Dick  had 
so  strangely  disappeared. 

But  leaving  this  excited  assemblage  to  their  discussions  re 
specting  the  fate  of  Dick  Swain,  and  the  most  advisable  steps 
to  be  taken  for  his  rescue,  we  will  now  take  the  reader  to  a 
scene  enacting  in  another  part  of  the  village,  which  will,  per 
haps,  sufficiently  elucidate  the  pretty  little  fright  of  the  Puri- 
t:ui  populace  which  we  have  been  describing,  and,  at  the  same 
time,  develope  another  step  in  the  progress  of  our  eventful 
story. 

In  a  somewhat  secluded  location,  on  a  different  border  of 
the  town,  stood,  at  this  period,  a  substantial  dwelling-house, 
so  constructed  as  very  happily  to  combine,  in  the  general  ap 
pearance,  the  architectural  characteristics  of  the  best  class  of 
English  cottages  with  those  of  the  American  farm  house.  Al 
though  not  a  very  ancient  building,  it  was  yet  old  enough  to 
have  allowed  time,  since  its  construction,  for  the  full  growth 
of  the  well  arranged  shrubbery  that  embowered  it.  Standing 
back  some  distance  from  the  road,  it  was  enclosed  by  the  long, 
shaded  yard  in  front,  a  garden  on  one  side,  a  fruit  orchard  on 
the  other  j  and  extensive  cultivated  fields  extending  all  along 
the  rear.  Along  the  front  of  the  house  ran  a  wide  verandah, 
which  was  enveloped  in  a  cloud  of  clustering  vines  in  full  foliage, 
through  which,  at  the  particular  hour  we  have  chosen  for  the 
introduction  of  the  reader  to  the  scene  at  hand,  a  small  light, 
from  one  of  the  front  rooms,  was  fitfully  gleaming.  In  that 
room,  and  by  that  light,  placed  on  a  small  table  standing  near 


THE   ANXIOUS    MAIDEN.  91 

an  open  window,  sat  the  now  sole  mistress  of  the 'establish 
ment,  a  dark-eyed  girl  of  about  twenty.  She  was  attired  in 
the  habiliments  usually  worn  by  the  wealthier  of  her  sex,  but 
which,  on  her  finely  turned  figure,  were  made  to  appear,  as  dress 
ever  will  on  some  persons,  to  unusual  advantage.  She  held  in 
her  hand  a  richly  bound  old  volume,  from  which  she  occasion 
ally  raised  her  eyes  and  turned  her  head  to  listen — sometimes, 
it  was  evident  from  the  wondering  and  puzzled  expression 
that  for  the  moment  rested  on  her  beauteous  features, 
to  the  distant  noises  of  the  tumult  in  the  streets,  and 
sometimes,  it  was  equally  evident  from  very  different  expres 
sions  of  countenance,  for  the  nearer  sounds  of  the  footsteps  of 
some  expected  visitor.  Presently  those  sounds  appeared  to 
strike  upon  her  quickened  senses.  She  started,  and  while 
her  whole  heart  seemed  jumping  into  her  kindling  cheeks, 
rose,  advanced  a  step  towards  the  door,  and  stood  expectant. 
The  next  moment,  the  young  marksman  who  had  left  the 
crowd  in  the  street  so  abruptly,  an  hour  or  two  before,  stood 
in  the  entrance,  with  looks  that  spoke  a  gratification  which 
his  tongue  would  have  in  vain  tried  to  utter. 

"  The  brightest  of  good  evenings  to  you,  Madian,"  he  said, 
respectfully  extending  his  hand. 

"  And  as  pleasant  an  one  to  you,  Sir  Yane,  if  I  am  to  let 
you  off  without  a  scolding  for  calling  on  a  lady  at  nearly  ten 
o'clock  in  the  evening,"  she  replied,  accepting  the  proffered 
hand  with  a  sort  of  half  bantering,  half  serious  air.  "  But 
now  you  are  here,  you  may  be  seated  and  tarry  long  enough  to 
answer  me  a  question  or  two.  Our  serving-man,  Taffy,  has 
been  out  to  witness  the  public  proceedings,  and  has  informed 
me  what  occurred  during  the  day.  But  I  would  inquire 
what  has  happened  this  evening,  to  cause  so  much  commotion 
in  the  streets  ?" 

"  Oh,  nothing,  or  nothing  very  alarming,  I  think, 


92  THE   DOOMED    CHIEF. 

"Nothing!  Then  they  made  much  ado  about  nothing,  it 
appears  to  me." 

a  They  did — much  more  than  T  expected." 

"  Expected  !  Why,  was  it  about  something  of  your  own 
moving  that  you  could  go  into  a  calculation  of  its  effects  on 
the  populace  ?" 

"  How  sharp  you  are  upon  me  to-night,  Madian  !" 

"  Ah  !  you  look  roguish,  sir — you  stand  suspected — yes, 
convicted,  nearly,  of  something,  I  know  not  what — now  con 
fess,  sir,  that  your  punishment  may  be  the  lighter." 

"  Well,  Madian,  as  you  certainly  should  have  some  excuse 
from  me  for  delaying  to  this  unseasonable  hour  the  call  that 
Taffy  doubtless  told  you  I  proposed  to  make  this  evening,  I 
may  as  well  give  you  the  true  one,  and  especially  so  as  it  may 
concern  you  to  know  it." 

"  Proceed  ;   prithee,  proceed,  sir." 

"Taffy  perhaps  told  you  of  my  bout  with  Sniffkin  this 
morning,  at  target  shooting,  and  afterwards  at  word  shoot 
ing?" 

"  He  di<}. ;  and  I  could  not  but  fear  that  you  gave  him  as 
much  advantage  over  you  in  the  latter,  as  you  gained  over  him 
in  the  former,  for  I  think  he  will  be  likely  to  try  to  turn  your 
bold  language  to  your  detriment." 

"  He  it  so,  then  ;  for  it  is  not  in  me,  Madian,  to  hold  my 
peace  under  false  accusations,  much  less  if  they  come  in  the 
shape  of  insulting  insinuations.  Nor  will  any  fear  of  the 
Plymouth  regency  deter  me  from  expressing  my  disapprobation 
of  a  course  of  policy  which  I  feel  to  be  so  certainly  hazardous 
to  the  peace  and  safety  of  this  colony.  But  that  is  not  what  I 
w;is  about  to  tell  you.  Soon  after  this  bloody  day's  work  was 
over,  I  started  out  to  come  here,  when  I  fell  in  with  a  crowd 
in  the  street  discussing  the  matter  of  the  execution,  which, 
now  it  is  over,  seems  to  have  filled  the  fickle  people,  who  were 
at  first  so  urgent  in  getting  up  this  mad  proceeding,  with  great 


A    NIGHT    ALARM.  93 

fears  for  the  consequence.  Here  also  I  found  Sniffkin  and 
hit*  tools,  who  all  assailed  me  iigain.  I  was,  however,  deter 
mined  I  would,  this  time,  have  no  altercation  with  them,  and 
so  walked  off  and  was  proceeding  on  my  way,  when  I  soon 
found  myself  dogged  by  Dick  Swain  •  and  having,  as  I  glanced 
hack  on  my  retreat  from  the  crowd,  detected  Sniff  kin  whisper 
ing  some  directions  r.o  Dick,  I  readily  comprehended  the 
object,  arid  so  contrived  up  a  little  scheme  to  defeat  it." 

"  Yes,  but  what  was  the  object  of  dogging  you  ?" 

"  To  see  whether  I  came  here,  Madian,"  replied  the  young 
man,  bending  an  earnest,  significant  look  upon  the  other. 

"  So  that  is  the  way,"  responded  the  spirited  girl,  with  her 
thin  nostrils  distending,  and  her  black  eyes  flashing  with  sup 
pressed  indignation — "  so  that  is  the  way,  then,  they  would 
treat  the  guests  I  choose  to  admit  here!  Well,  perhaps  I  have 
no  right  at  all  in  the  house  my  father  left  me!  But  go  on 
with  your  account  of  this  nice  affair." 

"Yes.  Well,  I  then  altered  my  course,  proceeded  to  the 
border  of  the  pine  barrens,  where  two  of  my  red  friends  who 
had  come  on  with  me  to  the  trial  were  encamped,  pointed  out 
to  them  the  dogging  tool  still  lurking  in  the  distance,  and 
directed  them,  when  I  should  have  decoyed  him  along  against 
them,  to  rush  out,  gently  take  him  in  tow,  lead  him  a  mile 
into  the  woods,  detain  him  an  hour  or  two,  and  let  him  go. 
Standing  in  a  neighboring  copse,  all  this  I  saw  done — heard 
his  uproarious  outcry  of  '  Murder !  Indians!'  &c.,  as  they 
drew  him  into  the  bushes;  then,  soon  after,  to  my  surprise 
and  vexation,  I  perceived  half  the  town  rushing  in  wild  alarm 
to  the  spot,  when,  after  listening  from  my  covert  to  the  con 
sultation  of  the  valorous  pursuers  of  the  supposed  abducting 
Indians,  as  they  drew  up  in  a  line  at  a  safe  distance  from  the 
wood,  and  hearing  them,  at  the  suggestion  of  Sniffkin  and 
Deacon  Mudgridge,  decide  to  return  to  the  meeting-house  to 
hold  a  council  of  war,  I  took  my  way  by  a  round-about  path 


94  THE    DOOMED    CIITFF. 

very  quietly  hitherward,  to  fulfil  an  appointment,  if  not  too 
late,  which  it  would  have  grieved  me  much  to  have  been 
choused  out  of,  but  even  more  to  have  kept  it  in  a  way  that 
would  have  added  to  the  embarrassments  of  my  fair  enter 
tainer." 

A  low,  silvery  peal  of  merry  laughter  burst  from  the  lips 
of  Madian,  as  the  narrator  closed  his  account  of  the  night 
alarm,  which  had  so  awakened  her  curiosity;  but  she  made  no 
other  comment  than  by  asking, 

"  l>ut  will  not  this  Dick  Swain  suspect  who  was  the  insti 
gator  of  his  odd  abduction  ? 

"No,  I  think  not.  It  was  so  managed  that  he  could  see 
no  signs  of  any  communications  between  me  and  the  In 
dians,  who  were  made  to  go  round  in  the  bushes  so  as  to  appear 
to  rush  upon  him  from  a  different  direction  from  the  line  he 
and  I  were  taking." 

"  Wh.at  then  will  the  affair  end  in  ?" 

"  Smoke.  They  have  contrived  to  let  him  escape,  by  this 
time,  and  probably  he  is  now  back  to  the  meeting-house,  an 
nouncing  to  the  crazy  crowd  his  marvelous  escape,  which  he 
will  doubtless  swear  he  effected  by  disabling  a  good  half- 
dozen  of  Philip's  warriors.  And  to-morrow  you  will  hear  his 
exploits,  I  presume,  bruited  from  mouth  to  mouth  through 
the  town." 

"  I  hope,  all  the  events  of  this  day  will  result  in  no  worse 
consequences." 

'•  I  hope  it,  certainly,  but  hope  against  conviction.  For 
I  feel  that  the  fatal  die  has  this  day  been  cast." 

"  Then  you  count  on  the  approach  of  troubles  for  us  all  ?" 
"I  do,  Madian,  I  am  deeply  impressed  with   the  apprehen 
sion,  that  times  are  at  hand  such  as  the  people  of  this  colony 
have  never  seen.      Indeed,  I  feel   so  certain   of  it,  that   I  am 
about  to  enter  on  immediate  preparations,  so  that  when   the 


VANE    WILLIS    ANNOUNCES    HIS    DEPARTURE.  95 

storm  of  war  shall  burst,  as  it  doubtless  will  soon,  and  sud 
denly,  it  shall  not  find  all  unprepared  and  helpless." 

"  Surely,  Mr.  Willis,  you  cannot  be  anxious  to  plunge,  un 
called  by  the  rulers,  into  the  perils  of  a  savage  warfare  ?" 

"  If  such  as  I  arn  do  not  come  forward,  to  stand  between 
the  helpless  of  our  unguarded  homes  and  the  exasperated  sav 
ages,  who  will  be  likely  to  do  so,  or  do  it  in  a  manner  which 
can  only  be  effectual  ?  The  court  of  Plymouth,  and  those 
they  will  be  likely  to  appoint  to  lead  their  troops  to  bat 
tle,  know  little  or  nothing  of  the  modes  of  Indian  warfare, 
and  before  they  will  have  learned  by  experience,  hundreds  of 
families  may  perish.  I  shall  ask  no  appointment  of  them, 
while  they  remain  under  their  present  influences;  but,  Ma- 
dian,  I  must  go." 

"  What,  alone,  and  single  handed  T' 

"  No — in  anticipation  of  this  crisis,  I  have  already  talked 
over  the  matter  with  a  few  of  the  young  men,  who  entertain 
ray  views,  and  who  would  not  hesitate,  they  say,  to  follow 
where  I  would  lead.  And  I  am  thinking,  therefore,  to  organ 
ize  a  select  band  of  volunteers  to  be  ready  for  the  emergency. 
But  if  I  do  this  at  all,  I  should  do  so  immediately;  for  as  I 
look  upon  affair?,  every  moment's  delay  may  be  fraught  with 
peril.  And  within  this  very  hour,  therefore,  I  shall  be  on  my 
way  to  Boston,  to  enlist  from  that  colony  some  I  know  there, 
whom  I  would  like  to  have  with  me,  in  the  proposed  service/' 

"To-night?  O  Vane  Willis,  Vane  Willis,  how  your  words 
pain  me  !" 

*'  It  must  be  so,  Madian.  It  is  a  patriotic  duty.  You  are 
the  daughter  of  one  who  was  reputed  a  brave  soldier,  and 
can  better  appreciate  than  many  others,  perhaps  my  feelings 
and  motives.  Yes,  dear  Madian,  I  must  go;  but  before  I 
leave  you,  to  see  you  I  know  not  when  again,  I  would  carry 
with  me  some  comforting  pledge  that  you " 

"  Why,  you  know  already,  Vane — how  can  you  but  know, 


90  THE   DOOMED   CHIEF 

on  whom  my  choice  will  fill,  if  T  cnn  be  left  free  to  make  it  ? 
You  are  agoing  to  fight  battles  abroad,  /rcmai'i  to  fi^iit  battles 
at  home.  If  we  both  come  out  conquerors,  and  e\cr  live  to 
behold  the  light  of  peace  again " 

"  Then  I  have  your  promise  ?" 

"  I  know  not  what  I  owjht  to  say,  Vane,^and  yet  I  know 
not  what  to  gay,  but  yes." 

"  It  is  settled  and  sealed  then.  But,  Madian,  cannot  you 
give  me  some  token  of  this  our  plighted  faith,  to  look  upon 
when  alone  in  the  wilderness,  to  give  me  strength  and  hope  in 
the  hour  of  battle  ?" 

Madian  dropped  her  head  a  moment  in  thought,  when 
starting  up  with  an  animated  Icok,  she  begged  to  be  excused 
for  a  brief  absence,  and  hastily  left,  'the  room.  In  another 
minute  she  appeared,  bearing  in  her  hand  a  richly  mounted 
rapier,  whose  blue  bright  Damascus  blade  gleamed  in  the  light 
like  a  polished  diamond. 

"  Here,"  said  she,  pausing  before  her  wondering  lover, — 
{l  here  is  the  trusty  blade  that  was  worn  on  many  a  hard  fought 
field  by  Col.  Richard  South  worth,  in  the  voluntary  service  of 
his  idolized  master,  the  lion  hearted  Oliver  Cromwell  of  Kng- 
land.  On  whom  can  his  daughter  more  fittingly  bestow  it, 
than  on  one  who  also  voluntarily  proposes  to  encounter  no 
less  perils  for  the  public  safety  ?  Vane  Willis,"  she  added, 
holding  up  the  blade  with  both  hands,  and  imprinting  an 
ardent  kiss  on  its  burnished  side,  u  Vane  Willis,  this  is  yours  j 
and  I  pass  it  to  your  hands,  consecrated  by  the  love  of  the 
giver.  Keep  it,  and  with  her  ever-attending  prayers,  and  in 
her  name,  as  the  last  representative  of  a  brave  warrior,  and  in 
the  name  of  that  true  man,  Sir  Henry  Vane,  whose  name  you 
in  part  bear,  use  it  worthily.  And  may  heaven  bless  and 
watch  over  you.  But  now  go — in  mercy,  go;  I  can  bear  this 
DO  longer.  Adieu,  adieu  !" 

And  the  proud,  but  deeply  moved   maiden  hurried  him  to 


RICHARD    SOUTIIWORTH  97 

the  door,  and  scarcely  waiting  to  receive  his  parting  words, 
turned  to  hide  her  Cashing  tears,  and  fled  ro  her  chamber. 

It  is  now  time  that  we  should  p;iuse  in  the  action  of  the 
story  to  <rive  the  reader  a  move  particular  account  of  the  fam 
ily  last  introduced,  than  he  or  she  can  have  learned  from  what 
has  been  said  of  them  in  the  preceding  pages. 

Col  Richard  South  worth,  a  man  of  wealth  and  family,  was 
at  the  opening  of  the  revolution,  which  resulted  in  the  over 
throw  of  the  British  monarchy,  in  1642,  a  resident  of  the 
banks  of  the  Severn,  in  the  west  of  England.  In  religion  a 
puritan,  and  in  politics  a  follower  of  the  noble  Hampden,  or 
something  still  more  republican,  he  was  among  the  first  to 
take  arms  against  the  infatuated  Charles  and  his  corrupt  ad 
visers,  in  their  reckless  attempt  to  subvert  the  constitutional 
liberties  of  the  people.  And  having  entered  Cromwell's  noted 
regiment  as  a  captain,  he  displayed  so  much  devotion  to  the 
cause,  and  such  gallantry  in  deeds  enacted  under  the  search 
ing  eye  of  his  daring  leader,  that  he  was  soon  promoted  to  the 
next  succeeding  military  grades.  And,  when  that  great  leader, 
through  the  force  of  his  overtoworing  genius  and  energy,  rose 
to  the  post  of  commander-in-cliief  of  the  Parliamentary  army, 
the  well-tried  Southworth  was  placed  at  the  head  of  his  regi 
ment — a  regiment  which  had  already  laid  the  foundation  of 
its  old  master's  fortunes,  and  which,  for  high  discipline  and 
unwavering  courage,  has  rarely  been  equalled  by  any  other 
body  of  troops  in  the  world. 

In  the  great  struggle  that  now  ensued,  Richard  Southworth, 
with  his  invincible  regiment,  became  the  scourge  and  terror 
of  the  quailing  monarchists,  by  the  irresistible  fury  of  his 
charges  in  battle,  and  in  the  untiring  perseverance  of  his 
efforts  everywhere  to  crush  and  destroy  them.  But  no  sooner 
had  he  seen  his  revered  leader  and  pattern  firmly  seated  in 
authority,  with  the  prostrate  royalists  at  his  feet,  than  he 
•ought,  and  at  length  obtained  the  reluctantly  granted  per- 


THE    DOOMED    CHIEF. 

mission  to  retire  from  the  army,  to  the  enjoyments  of  private 
life  on  his  estate,  only  replying  to  the  earnest  tmlieitations  of 
Cromwell  to  take  posts  of  honor  and  profit  under  his  govern 
ment,  by  saying  that  he  had  seen  all  the  desires  of  his  heart 
satisfied  in  the  downfall  of  the  hated  Stuarts,  and  in  the  ele 
vation  of  a  God-appointed  ruler,  who  could  be  safely  trusted 
with  the  rights  of  the  people. 

With  the  exception  of  an  occasional  visit  to  the  court  of 
Cromwell,  the  colonel,  having  married  and  settled  down  on 
his  estate,  now  maintained  a  life  of  seclusion  during  the  whole 
rule  of  his  beloved  sovereign,  evidently  contented  with  his 
quiet  pursuits,  and  well  satisfied  with  the  situation  of  public 
affairs.  But  on  the  death  of  Cromwell,  he  immediately  be 
came  distrustful  and  uneasy,  for  he  had  the  sagacity  to  per 
ceive  that  with  the  departure  of  the  controlling  spirit  of  its 
great  champion,  the  life  and  soul  of  the  anti-monarchical  party 
in  England  had  gone  also,  and  that  in  the  amiable  and  yield 
ing  Richard,  now  succeeding  to  his  father's  authority,  the 
ever  secretly  plotting,  and  now  hopeful  royalists  would  find 
an  unconscious  instrument  to  help  them  again  into  power. 
The  advent  of  the  latter  contingency  would,  with  his  settled 
convictions  and  unbending  disposition,  render  his  further  resi 
dence  in  England  insupportable,  and  probably  be  as  dangerous 
to  him  personally  as  it  would  be  repugnant  to  his  feelings. 
Having  taken  this  view  of  the  subject,  he  soon  formed  a  new 
plan  for  his  future  ;  and  with  his  accustomed  promptitude, 
proceeded  immediately  to  execute  it. 

In  pursuance  of  his  scheme,  he  lost  no  time  in  converting 
his  whole  property  into  available  funds,  and  preparing  to  leave 
the  country.  And  with  so  much  energy  did  he  prosecute  the 
object  in  view,  that  within  three  months  he  had  made  every 
thing  ready  for  the  departure  of  himself  and  family.  When 
taking  his  wife  and  only  child,  the  spirited  little  Madian,  to 
gether  with  a  trusty  Welch  couple,  who,  man  and  wife,  with- 


SOUTHWORTH    EMIGRATES    TO    AMERICA.  99 

out  children,  had  lived  some  years  with  the  family  in  the 
capacity  of  servants,  and  were  still  willing  to  follow  its  tor- 
tunes,  he  proceeded  in  a  private  manner  to  the  coast,  and 
took  passage  to  Holland.  And  within  another  month,  having 
safely  deposited  the  larger  part  of  his  funds  in  the  bank  at 
Amsterdam,  and  everything  else  there  favoring  his  projects, 
he  and  his  family  were  on  their  way  to  America. 

Having  arrived  in  Boston,  and  tarried  a  few  days  with  a 
relation  of  Mrs.  Southworth,  they  proceeded  to  Plymouth,  to 
which  the  Puritans  in  Holland  had  very  naturally,  from  their 
greater  knowledge  of  the  colony  settled  there,  directed  the 
attention  of  the  colonel  as  the  most  desirable  for  a  permanent 
settlement.  Here,  -  hen  it  became  known  that  he  was  a  Pu 
ritan  and  a  man  of  means,  he  was  kindly  received,  and  assis 
ted  in  the  purchase  of  the  best  tract  of  land  to  be  had  adjoin 
ing  the  village.  Of  this,  the  independent  new  emigrant  took 
immediate  possession,  put  the  land  under  a  thorough  system 
of  cultivation,  and  at  once  commenced  building  the  dwelling- 
house  which  we  have  described,  and  in  which,  so  rapidly  was 
the  work  prosecuted,  he  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  himself 
and  family,  in  a  few  months  more,  quietly  ensconced,  and 
settled  down,  as  he  supposed,  for  a  peaceful  and  unmolested 
future;  for  having;  seen  in  the  old  world  enough  of  bloody 
•strife  and  political  bitterness  and  wrangling,  in  the  former  of 
which  he  had  only  engaged  from  a  stern  sense  of  duty,  while 
in  the  latter  he  never  would  take  part,  he  now  had  no  favors 
to  ask  of  the  public,  except  tolne  left  to  his  own  private  pur 
suits,  and  the  free  enjoyment  of  his  own  opinions.  But 
before  he  had  been  many  months  in  the  country,  he  discov 
ered  entirely  contrary  to  what  he  expected  to  find  here,  that, 
in  the  matter  of  religious  doctrines,  at  least,  he  could  not 
speak  and  act  as  he  pleased,  without  being  taken  to  task  by 
the  straight  going  churchmen,  who  here  had  control,  and  who 
required  that  the  opinions  of  all  others  should  be  squared  by 


100  THE    DOOMED   CHIEF. 

their  own.  He  had  himself  often  risked  his  life  in  brittle,  in 
a  good  part  to  secure  the  immunities  of  religious  freedom  ;  he 
knew  that  his  old  sovereign,  Oliver  Cromwell,  had  ever  tol 
erated  a  diversity  of  religious  belief.  And  for  a  while,  he 
could  not  conceive  how  men,  who  had  suffered  so  much  from 
persecution  themselves,  and  periled  so  much  for  the  right 
to  worship  in  their  own  way,  could  ever  become  the  persecu 
tors  of  others  for  claiming  the  same  privilege.  But  at  length 
he  found  too  much  reason  to  believe  that. 

"In  the  school  of  oppression,  though  woefully  taught, 
'Twas  only  to  be  the  oppressors  they  sought; 
All, — all  but  themselves  were  be-devil'd  and  blind, 
And  their  narrow- souled  creed  was  to  serve  all  mankind." 

Colonel  Southworth  had,  while  in  England,  several  times 
listened  to  the  burning  eloquence  of  the  celebrated  George  Fox, 
the  founder  of  Quakerism,  and  had  become  deeply  impressed 
•with  the  truth  and  moral  beauty  of  many  parts  of  his  creed, 
and  finding,  on  his  arrival  in  this  country,  that  the  Quakers 
here  were  undergoing  the  most  hitter  persecutions  for  no 
other  crime  than  their  belief,  he  hesitated  not  openly  to  con 
demn  the  course  of  the  colony  towards  them.  This  soon 
brought  upon  him  the  denunciations  of  the  church,  which,  in 
stead  of  awing  him  into  silence,  only  made  him  the  more  bold 
and  determined  in  the  defence  of  the  persecuted.  And  still 
persisting  in  his  course,  he,  in  a  short  time,  was  accounted  a 
Quaker  himself,  prescribed  and  put  upon  the  list  of  those 
against  whom  a  decree  of  tfanisliment  had  been  procured. 
And  the  decree  would  have  doubtless  been  immediately  en 
forced  upon  him  with  the  same  promptitude,  with  which  it 
was  upon  others,  but  for  the  intercession  of  a  few  friends,  or 
those  who  had  chosen  to  call  themselves  such,  among  the 
church  of  Plymouth,  who  gained  for  him  a  short,  respite. 
The  chief  of  these  intercessors  was  Mudgridge,  who,  from  the 
first,  had  taken  great  pains  to  ingratiate  nimstlf  into  the 


EXECUTION    OF    THE    RFGICZTEg:.  r!l 

Colonel's  favor,  and  who  now,  by  this  act  of  seeming  friend 
ship,  and  by  pretending  to  sympathize  with  him,  instead  of 
trying  to  reform  him,  as  lie  had  promised  the  church,  suc 
ceeded  in  completely  gaining  his  confidence.  Mudgridge 
then,  though  then  youngerly  and  comparatively  poor,  was  yet 
a  very  active  and  ambitious  member  of  the  church;  and  he 
had  the  address  by  frequently  making  encouraging  reports  of 
his  progress  in  rescuing  the  Colonel  from  his  heresies,  to  keep 
him  along  on  sufferance  nearly  a  year,  and  until  an  event  oc 
curred  which  made  all  efforts  of  that  kind  unnecessary. 

The  restoration  of  the  Stuarts  in  the  person  of  the  despicable 
Charles  II.  had  now  nearly  two  years  been  effected  in  En 
gland.  Those  who  had  had  anything  to  do  with  the  trial  and 
execution  of  Charles  I.  had  been  summarily  condemned  to 
death,  and  all  executed,  except  the  three  so  called  regicides, 
who  escaped  to  America — Goff,  Whaley,  and  Dixon.  But 
with  the  death  of  this  class  of  men,  the  royal  vengeance  was 
not  satisfied.  Others,  like  Huuh  Peters  and  Sir  Henry  Vane, 
who  were  accounted  influential  promoters  of  the  revolution, 
were,  from  time  to  time,  added  to  the  list  of  the  doomed,  till 
the  early  career  of  Colonel  South  worth  was  in  some  way  called 
to  mind,  when  he,  too,  was  condemned  to  death,  his  abode 
ferreted  out,  and  a  warrant,  with  a  lar<re  reward  for  his  appre 
hension,  was,  as  before  in  the  case  of  the  three  regicides,  for 
warded  to  Boston.  Luckily,  however,  a  friend  in  that  city 
got  an  intimation  of  the  arrival  of  the  warrant  before  it  reached 
the  hands  of  the  officers,  and  despatched  a  messenger  to  the 
proscribed  Colonel,  who,  on  receiving  the  timely  warning,  in 
stantly  commenced  preparations  for  immediate  flight.  But 
with  whom  should  he  entrust  the  charge  of  property  and  fa 
mily  ?  Between  himself  and  his  wife,  a  cold,  incapable,  rigid 
religionist,  there  had  long  been  but  few  intermingling  sympa 
thies,  and  in  business  affairs,  no  community  of  knowledge. 
As  he  grew  more  liberal,  she  grew  more  bigoted  j  and  since 


102  Tl?E   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

he  had  fallen  under  the  displeasure  of  the  church,  whoso 
opinions  with  her  were  both  law  and  gospel,  she  had  actually 
sided  with  them  against  him.  She  knew  little  of  the  situa 
tion  and  extent  of  his  property,  except  that  he  owned  his  present 
establishment,  and  had  sufficient  money  in  the  house  to  last 
the  family,  with  the  profits  of  the  farm,  several  years  to  come. 
For  these  reasons  combined,  he  resolved  to  place  the  charge 
of  his  whole  affairs  in  the  hands  of  another.  And  the  person 
selected  for  this  purpose,  was,  as  might  be  expected,  his  con- 
fid  nti;tl  friend,  Mudgridge,  who  was  immediately  summoned  j 
when  the  two  spent  most  of  the  night  closeted  together  in  con 
sultation,  the  result  of  which  was  that  all  the  colonel's  property 
here,  and  paner  evidences  of  funded  property  abroad,  with 
authority  to  draw  the  latter  as  needed,  was  placed  in  the 
hands  of  Mudgridge,  in  trust  for  the  sole  use  and  benefit  of 
his  family,  over  whom  he  was  also  to  have  the  oversight  and 
virtual  guardianship,  unrestrained,  as  it  very  naturally  hap 
pened,  in  the  hurry  and  anxieties  of  the  moment,  by  either 
witnesses  or  written  guaranties  for  the  faithful  discharge  of  the 
important  trust. 

As  soon  as  these  hasty  arrangements  were  made,  the  pro 
scribed  patriot  filled  a  pack  with  clothing,  took  a  good  supply 
of  coin,  bid  his  family  a  hurried  farewell,  and  under  cover  of 
the  night  departed  for  some  undecided  destination  to  the 
westward.  The  next  day  the  officers  of  justice  made  their 
appearance,  and  scoured  the  country,  far  and  wide,  in  pursuit 
of  the  fugitive  ;  but  wholly  in  vain.  For  several  months, 
nothing  was  heard  of  him  by  any  one.  But  at  length  Mud 
gridge  received  a  letter  from  him,  brought  by  an  uncommu 
nicative  Indian,  from  some  unrevealed  locality,  and  saying  that, 
"  resting,  as  he  now  was,  under  a  double  ban,  for  thr  right 
ful  assertion  of  his  principles  in  England,  and  the  honest 
expression  of  his  religious  views  here  in  the  colonies,  he  had 
become  thoroughly  disgusted  with  the  conduct  of  his  race, 


MUDGRIDGE'S  RAPID  RISE.  103 

and  it,  would  be  very  doubtful  whether  he  should  ever  agnm 
m;ike  his  appearance  in  any  so  called  civilized  community  ;" 
and  that  "  he  neither  cared  for,  nor  wan-ted  any  more  property 
than  he  had  with  him.  Let  all  that  go  to  his  family,  who 
need  take  no  further  thought  of  him."  In  this  way  matters 
rested  some  time  longer;  when  some  hunters,  who  had  cotm* 
across  the  wilderness  from  Connecticut  river  brought  word 
that  they  had  learned  on  their  way,  from  the  Indians,  that  the 
white  man  who  had  run  aw;iy  from  Plymouth,  the  year  before, 
and  who,  from  the  description  given  of  him,  could  be  no  other 
than  Colonel  Southworth,  had  died  of  sickness,  a  few  weeks 
before,  and  had  been  buried  by  the  Indian  family  with  whom 
he  had  been  living. 

From  this  time,  Mudgridge  became  the  sole  supervisor  and 
undisputed  director  of  all  the  affairs  of  the  Southworth  family. 
And  from  this  time,  also  his  own  circumstances  in  life  com 
menced  a  great  and  rapid  amendment.  House  after  house, 
for  renting,  to  say  nothing  of  his  own  costly  mansion,  were, 
during  the  next  ten  years,  seen  going  up  under  his  directions  ; 
and  farm  after  farm  were  added  to  his  fast  spreading  domains, 
till  he  was  accounted  by  all,  the  richest  man  in  the  place. 
All  this  was  attributed  to  his  commendable  business  sagacity, 
and  the  blessings  that  followed  his  Christian  virtues,  the  last 
of  which  had  long  since  made  him  a  Deacon  in  the  church, 
and  now  one  of  the  most  influential  men  in  the  colony. 

And  in  this  manner,  affairs  continued  to  go  on  till  the 
death  of  Mrs.  Southworth,  which  occurred  the  winter  before 
the  time  we  have  chosen  for  the  opening  of  our  story.  The 
Deacon  had  succeeded  to  his  entire  satisfaction  in  getting  along 
with  the  widow.  But  the  daughter,  who  was  now  grown  to 
womanhood,  he  had  long  since  perceived,  was  altogether  a 
different  person,  both  in  intellect  and  disposition  ;  and  with 
him  it  appeared  to  become  a  great  object  that  she  should  have 
the  right  kind  of  husband.  His  nephew,  Timothy  Sniffkin, 


104  THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

had  therefore  been  imported  the  year  before,  from  the  neigh- 
boring  colony,  but  with  what  success  will  better  be  shown  in 
the  progress  of  the  tale. 

Having  thus  in  a  digression,  far  more  extended  than  we  at 
first  proposed  to  ourself,  given  a  history  of  the  remarkable 
fortunes  of  the  family  we  had  introduced,  we  will  now  resume 
the  thread  of  our  narrative. 


AM  UNWELCOME   VISITOR.  105 


CHAPTER   VI. 

"  Was  this  religion  pure  and  undefiled  ? 
Was  this  religion  for  a  little  child  ? 
Can  tender,  trembling  spirits  thus  be  driven, 
By  whips  of  living  scorpions  into  heaven  ?" 

THE  next  morning,  as  Madian  Southworth  sat  at  her  window 
pensively  revolving  in  mind  the  tender  passages  that  had  oc 
curred  between  her  and  her  gallant  lover,  at  their  last,  night's 
interview,  the  whole  of  which  now  seemed  to  her  so  sweet,  so 
entrancing,  and  so  transient,  that  it  appeared  more  like  the 
bright  and  fleeting  representations  of  a  dreaming  fancy  than 
a  tangible  reality,  her  eye  caught  a  glimpse,  through  the  cluster 
ing  shrubbery,  of  the  tall,  stooping  figure  of  the  Shadow  enter 
ing  the  front  gate,  and  approaching  the  house.  She  slightly 
started,  and  a  sort  of  recoiling  shudder  seemed  to  pass  over 
her;  for,  as  the  grating  sounds  of  his  slow,  solemn  tread  upon 
the  graveled  pathway  fell  upon  her  ear,  she  instinctively  felt 
that  his  early  visit  had  something  to  do  with  the  subject  of  her 
thoughts,  and  the  new  born,  and,  as  yet,  almost  ethereal  tics, 
which  her  heart  rose  up  jealously  to  guard  against  the  rude 
touch  of  all  others,  whether  the  opposing  or  the  careless. 
Soon  schooling  herself  into  composure  however,  she  respect 
fully  saluted  Dummer  as  he  entered,  and  invited  him  to  a 
seat,  in  which,  after  sundry  awkward  flourishes  and  sprawling 
movements  of  his  long,  ungainly  limbs,  he  at  length  became 
pretty  fairly  settled.  The  native  dignity  of  Madian,  now 
made  the  more  imposing,  by  the  cool  reserve  with  which  her 
demeanor  had  become  involuntary  invested,  very  evidently 


106  THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

discomposed  the  intruding  zealot,  and  it  was  some  moments 
before  he  could  get  his  thoughts  sufficiently  in  working  order 
to  open  upon  the  matter  of  his  mission. 

"  I  came,"  he  at  last  rather  falteringly  began — "  I  came — 
the  best  friends  of  the  family  thereunto  consenting  and  ad 
vising — to  hold  friendly  communion  and  kindly  counsel  with 
the  daughter  of  our  late  well-beloved  sister  Southworth.  in 
matters  pertaining  to  her  spiritual  welfare." 

"  Indeed,  sir,"  responded  Madian,  in  a  sort  of  non-commit 
tal,  enquiring  tone. 

"  Yea,  young  woman;  for,  in  our  holy  anxieties  for  the 
spiritual  safety  of  one,  who  is  now  left  without  any  proper 
Christian  guide  in  the  family,  and  therefore  continually  liable 
to  be  deceived  and  led  astray  by  the  Evil  one,  who  watcheth 
by  day  and  by  night  to  seduce  the  young  and  unwary  by  his 
manifold  devices,  we  of  the  household  of  faith  are  filled  with 
a  very  great  desire — yea,  with  inexpressible  yearnings,  to  see 
you  come  into  the  sacred  fold." 

"  Perhaps  I  should  be  thankful,  sir,  for  so  much  attention 
to  my  condition,  if  it  be  attended  with  the  perils  you  intimate. 
But  let  me  ask  if  the  fold  you  speak  of  is  the  same  as  the  one 
in  which,  as  I  have  been  told,  was  once  originated  a  decree  for 
banishing  my  father  from  his  home  and  family,  only  for  dis 
approving  of  the  persecutions  of  the  harmless  Quakers  ?" 

<l  You  are  in  grievous  error,  young  woman.  The  Quakers 
are  not  a  harmless  sect,  but  schismatic  and  pestilent,  the 
spreaders  of  false  doctrines  and  dangerous  heresies.  And 
your  father,  if  not  one  of  them,  did  commit  a  heinous  offence 
in  upholding  them,  as  he  himself  did  admit  and  confess,  as  I  was 
told  by  Deacon  JMudgridge.  And  hence,  on  account  ?f  his 
repentance,  he  was  graciously  spared  the  banishment  you 
mentioned," 

"  I  have  never  before  heard  of  any  such  repentance  on  his 
part.  And  as  he  was  not  driven  from  his  home,  as  it  had 


APPEALS    OF    THE    SHADOW.  107 

been  intended,  I  bad  supposed  that  the  repentance  must 
have  been  on.  the  part  of  the  movers  of  that  Christian  mea 
sure." 

"  The  movers  repent !  the  shurch  guilty  of  repentance, 
young  woman  !  verily  tliou  talkest  like  one  of  the  unregenerate 
whereas  thou  art  reputed  to  have  been  piously  inclined,  dis 
agreeing  with  us  only  in  the  matters  of  sound  doctrines.  But 
this  questioning  of  the  doings  of  the  elect  betok.cn eth,  I 
greatly  fear  me,  that  there  is  still  a  chain  of  hell  about  thy 
neck,  drawing  thee  away  unto  all  sorts  of  Saddueisms  ;md 
heresies.  And  I  feel  it  my  God-bounden  duty  to  warn  thee 
of  thy  situation.  By  the  terrors  of  the  law,  persuade  we  men 
unto  repentance.  Wherefore  I  speak  unto  thee  as  one  in  the 
gall  of  bitterness  and  the  bonds  of  iniquity — as  one  in  danger 
of  bein^r  given  over  to  the  buffeting  of  Sathan,  and  at  once 
snatched  away  to  that  awful  hell  of  everlasting  burnings  where 
the  worm  dieth  not  and  the  fire  is  not  quenched.  0  repent 
ye,  repent,  and  straightway  come  out  from  among  the  workers 
of  iniquity,  lest  the  terrible  Avenger  of  sin  come  like  a  thief 
in  the  night  speedily  upon  thee  for  thy  awful  contumacy,  and 
the  righteous  wrath  of  an  offended  Heaven  fall  quickly  on  thy 
guilty  head,  and  utterly  consume  thee,  like  stubble  in  the 
fiery  furnace,  which  may  God  in  his  mercy  avert  — Let  us 
pray." 

Before  the  astonished  maiden  had  time  to  utter,  had  she 
felt,  disposed  to  do  so,  one  word  in  self-defence,  or  in  depreca 
tion  of  this  storm  of  crimination  and  warning,  which  she  had 
so  inadvertently  brought  down  upon  her  own  head,  the  excited 
zealot  had  thrown  himself  upon  his  knees,  and  began  to  pour 
forth  the  loud,  wordy  torrent  of  one  of  his  most  heated  invo 
cations.  And  now  feeling  relieved  from  the  disquieting  effects 
of  the  calm,  searehinjr  looks  he  had  been  compelled  to  en 
counter,  and  taking  advantage  of  the  privilege  usually  accorded 
to  this  exercise — that  of  being  permitted  to  utter,  unques- 


108  THE    DOOMED    CHIEF. 

tinned,  whatever  may  best  subserve  the  purposes  of  the  speaker, 
he  redoubled  his  efforts  to  frighten  and  overawe  the  fair  object 
of  his  holy  onset.  By  a  long  and  terrible  tirade  on  the  enor 
mity  of  her  sins  of  commission  and  omission,  he  prayed  her  to 
the  depths  of  hell,  and  then,  by  a  pretended  wrestling  and 
wrangling  with  the  Almighty,  to  snatch  from  him  the  victim 
as  a  reward  for  his  assumed  faith,  he  prayed  her  out  again ; 
and  finally  he  prayed  her  into  the  church,  where,  in  a  sort  of 
prophetic  rhapsody  he  claimed  he  now  clearly  beheld  her  j 
and  thereupon  fell  into  shouts  of  thanksgiving  to  God  that 
she  was  at  last  safely  placed  beyond  the  reach  of  the  snares 
and  devices  of  the  devil  in  hell,  and  all  his  schismatic,  Quaker, 
heretic,  and  false-doctrine  spreading  emissaries  on  earth. 

Having  thus  brought  to  a  close  his  desperate  effort  for 
driving  Madian  into  the  church,  in  part  performance  of  the 
plfin  which  he  and  the  Deacon  had  the  evening  before  con 
cocted,  the  Shadow  now  rose  with  a  self-satisfied  air  ;  when, 
without  adding  a  word  by  way  of  retiring  civility,  lest  it 
might  weaken  the  effect  of  a  performance,  which,  if  left  to  work 
its  full  power  on  her  mind,  could  not  fail,  he  thought,  soon  to 
result  in  the  desired  consummation,  he  demurely  took  his  hat 
and  departed  to  report  progress  to  his  great  exemplar. 

Madian  scarcely  knew  what  to  make  of  this  strange  visit  of 
one  with  whom  she  had  not  the  honor  of  hardly  a  passing  ac 
quaintance,  and  still  less  of  the  stranger  manner  in  which  he 
had  conducted  it.  She  had  early  been  deeply  impressed  with 
all  the  generally  received  tenets  of  the  Christian  faith,  and 
sincerely  loved  and  admired  the  pure  and  simple  teachings  of 
the  Evangelists,  and  those  of  St.  John  more  than  the  rest, 
because  they  breathed  more  particularly  through  the  whole 
of  them,  that  trustful  and  childlike  love  to  her  God  and 
Savior,  which  was  so  much  in  unison  with  the  feelings  of  her 
own  heart,  and  which,  she  felt,  was  all  the  religion  she  pos 
sessed.  At  that  period,  she  might  have  sought  admission  to 


MADIAN'S  DOUBTS.  109 

the  church,  had  she  deemed  herself  worthy.  But  viewing 
that  establishment  through  the  bigoted  eyes  of  her  mother, 
she  esteemed  it  too  pure,  exalted,  and  infallible  to  make  it 
proper  to  receive  into  fellowship  one  so  unworthy  as  herself. 
But  as  she  became  older,  and  began  to  see  with  her  own  eyes, 
and  reflect  for  herself,  she  witnessed  such  a  want  of  what  she 
thought  to  be  the  requirement  of  Christian  charity  in  the 
church,  as  then  conducted  ;  so  much  intolerance,  as  exhibited 
particularly  in  the  case  of  her  father,  which  she  had  begun  to 
call  to  mind  and  investigate,  and  so  much  wrangling  and  dis 
putation  about  the  niceties  of  doctrines — all  which  she  felt  to  be 
distracting  her  mind  and  dampening  her  heart's  devotion,  that 
she  at  length  lost  all  desire  to  become  one  of  them  ;  fearing, 
indeed,  if  she  did  so,  that  not  only  whatever  of  the  Christian 
spirit  she  possessed  would  be  smothered  in  the  profitless  pol 
emics  then  in  vogue  among  all  church  members,  but  that  on 
account  of  their  intolerant  notions,  she  should  find  herself 
among  those  who  would  not  be  likely  long  to  extend  her  their 
fellowship,  and  to  whom  she  certainly  could  not  extend  full 
fellowship  herself. 

These  views  she  had  not  latterly  hesitated  to  express  openly, 
and  for  this  reason,  the  visit  of  Dummer,  coming  with  the 
avowed  object  of  urging  her  to  join  the  church,  had  taken  her 
by  surprise.  She  cou.d  not  understand,  and  the  more  she 
reflected,  the  more  was  she  at  a  loss  to  comprehend,  why  the 
church  or  any  of  its  members  should  desire  her  to  take  a  step 
which,  according  to  her  views,  should  be  entirely  voluntary, 
and  which,  if  not  so,  would  be  little  less  than  a  sacrilege. 
Yes,  why  should  such  a  measure  be  urged  upon  her,  especially 
just  now,  unless  there  was  ulterior  and  unworthy  motives  some 
where  at  the  bottom  of  the  movement  ?  What  that  motive 
was,  and  by  whom,  and  with  what  object  entertained,  she  be 
lieved  she  knew  ;  but  what  she  had  as  yet  witnessed  was  not 
sufficient  to  reduce  her  conjecture  to  a  certainty.  She  theer- 


110  THE    DOOMED    CHIEF. 

fore  resolved  to  keep  her  own  counsel,  act  with  prudence,  and 
wait  for  further  developments. 

And  for  such  developments,  she  was  not  kept  long  in 
waiting. 

The  next  day,  a  good  and  pious  matron  of  the  village  paid 
her  a  formal  visit,  during  which  the  lady  urgently  advised 
Madia n,  not  only  for  her  own  good,  but  as  the  means  of  more 
extended  usefulness,  to  make  a  public  profession  of  religion. 
And  this  was  followed  up  on  the  day  succeeding  that,  by 
another  female  church  member,  who  urged,  as  an  additional 
reason  for  the  step  recommended,  that  it  would  be  a  safeguard 
against  the  scandals  which  otherwise  would  be  likely  to  <?et 
into  circulation  against  a  lone  and  unprotected  young  lady. 
On  the  next  day  to  that,  she  had  to  entertain  yet  another  vis 
itor  on  the  same  errand;  and  on  yet  the  next,  two  both  evi 
dently  freighted  with  similar  loving  duties,  to  be  discharged 
towards  the  persecuted  Madian.  And  so  it  continued  through 
the  week  •  when  Deacon  Mudgridge  himself,  by  way  of  bring 
ing  up  the  rear,  was  seen,  towards  night,  leisurely  approach 
ing  the  house. 

To  all  these  besiegers,  Madian  had  thus  far  given  very  civil 
though  rather  evasive  answers.  But  having,  while  so  treating 
the  subject  with  them,  succeeded  in  fishing  out  from  one  and 
another  of  them  enough  to  satisfy  herself  who  was  either  di 
rectly  or  indirectly  the  moving  spirit  of  their  conjoint  labors 
of  love  and  duty,  she  resolved,  that  she  would  now,  if  the 
Deacon  (rave  ner  an  opportunity,  bring  the  matter  to  an 
eclaircissement ;  for  she  began  to  tire  under  an  appliance  which 
she  felt  to  he  as  insulting  to  her,  as  she  was  determined  to 
make  it  useless  to  all  others. 

The  persistent  Deacon,  consequently,  found  her,  evidently 
much  to  his  surprise  and  vexation  after  what  had  been  done, 
a  very  intractahle  subject.  And  when,  after  he  had  puddled 
round  fo  the  point,  and  repeated  the  proposition  which  his 


MADIAN    AND    MUDGRIDGE.  Ill 

emissaries  had  made  before  him,  and  which  he  now  put  in  the 
form  of  a  request,  savoring  much  of  the  air  of  a  command;  when 
she  told  him  respectfully,  but  decidedly,  that  she  must  be  her 
own  judge  in  the  matter,  and  decide  for  herself  when,  and 
whether  ever,  she  should  seek  admission  into  his  church  or 
any  other,  he  seemed  greatly  disturbed,  shook  his  head 
gravely,  and  solemnly  throwing  his  white  pig  eyes  upward,  in 
seeming  ejaculation,  muttered  something  about  <l  a  lost  sheep 
of  Israel." 

For  some  time  he  appeared  quite  determined  not  to  give  up 
beat  in  this  important  preliminary  to  success  in  his  main  ob 
ject,  after  taking  so  much  pains  to  pave  the  way  for  its  ac 
complishment;  and  he  returned  again  and  again  to  the  charge. 
But  finding  himself  completely  foiled  in  every  new  attempt, 
he  at  length  appeared  to  be  convinced  of  the  uselessness  of 
further  effort  in  that  direction,  and  soon  evidently  made  up 
his  mind  that  he  might  as  well  now  as  ever,  hazard  the 
chances  of  the  main  assault. 

"  The  Scripture,"  he  said,  after  some  boggling  in  fixing  on 
the  manner  of  introducing  his  subject — "  the  Scripture  moveth 
us  in  sundry  passages  thereof  unto  the  searching  out  our  duty 
pertaining  to  our  relations  as  man  and  woman.  It  is  not  good 
for  man  to  be  alone — much  less  helpless  woman,  as  we  are 
everywhere  in  the  Word  led  to  infer;  hence  we  find  Bethttai 
and  Laban  giving  their  daughters  to  wife,  when  they  arrived 
to  woman's  estate.  And  I,  standing  in  place  of  father  in  this 
family,  am  minded,  in  sense  of  duty,  to  speak  to  you  in  the 
matter  of  changing  your  condition  to  one  more  fitting,  and 
less  encompassed  with  the  snares  that  beset  the  young  and 
unwary,  than  the  unprotected  one  you  are  now  standing  in." 

u  But  7am  not  at  all  troubled  about  that  matter,  Deacon 
Mudgridge,  and  have  no  thought  of  changing  my  condition  at 
present,"  promptly  responded  JMadian,  though  not  without  > 
slight  tremor  in  her  voice. 


112  THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

"The  feeling  that,  promptcth  to  that  is  peradventure  but 
maiden  reserve,  which  is  not  unbecoming  a  young  woman, 
albeit  soon  overcome,  as  I  trust  it  will  be  in  the  present  case, 
for  you  are  now  arrived  to  woman's  estate,  and  it  is  meet  you 
should  have  a  suitable  protector.  In  view  of  these  thing*,  ^ 
confess  I  have  for  some  time  been  exercised  with  many  anx 
ieties  in  this  behalf.  Wherefore,  it  has  given  me  great,  plea 
sure  to  hear  that  my  nephew,  Mr.  Timothy  Sniffkin,  has  made 
honorable  proposal  to  raise  you  to  the  marriage  estate." 

**  I  am  glad,  sir,  the  proposal  gave  pleasure  to  any  one.  I 
am  sure  it  did  not  to  me." 

"  Now,  verily,  young  woman,  you  cannot  have  been  so 
hasty  and  inconsiderate  as  to  have  answered  Mr.  Sniffkin  in 
a  mariner  savoring  forwardness  and  opposition  to  his  advanta 
geous  proposal  ?" 

"  As  Mr.  Sniffkin  has  seen  fit  to  disclose  part  of  what  oc 
curred,  T  choose  that  you  should  look  to  him  for  the  rest  " 

A  visible  frown  passed  over  the  hard,  warty  visage  of  the 
Deacon,  at  the  equivocal  remark  of  the  other,  but  without 
deigning  any  direct  reply  to  it,  he  proceeded: 

"  As  the  law  of  God  and  the  regulating  of  men  made  in 
conformity  therewith,  as  abundantly  established  by  the  various 
precedents  of  infallible  Scripture,  fullv  ernpowereth  the  father 
to  bestow  the  daughter  on  whom  it  may  sepm  to  him  meet  and 
proper;  arid  as  those  properly  authorized  to  represent  the  fa 
ther  in  the  matter  thereto  pertaining,  and  moreover,  as  Mr. 
Sniffkin  did  not  move  in  this  thing  without  my  knowledge, 
and  without  my  consent  and  approbation  first  fully  obtained, 
it  remaineth  only  for  me  to  say,  that  I  expect  thy  acquiescence 
in  the  measure,  young  woman." 

"Then,  Deacon,  it  only  remains  for  me  to  say,  that  you 
must  be  sorely  disappointed." 

"  Nay,  I  am  not  to  be  disappointed  in  this.  It  is  not  a  new 
thing,  the  fitness  whereof  is  now  to  be  discussed,  but  one  thut 


A   STARTLING   DISCLOSURE.  113 

his  been  advisedly  agreed  on,  yea,  and  definitely  settled, 
months  ago." 

"  Settled,  sir!  How  can  a  case,  in  which  you  make  me  one 
of  the  parties,  have  been  either  settled  or  agreed  on  and  I 
kn  jw  nothing  about  it?" 

"  Natheless,  it  has  been  settled." 

"  Settled,  I  again  ask?     Settled  how,  and  by  whom  ?" 

"  Your  mother  and  myself,  perverse  young  woman,  and  that 
many  weeks  before  her  lamented  departure.  Yea,  she  and  I, 
by  fair  and  understanding  agreement  then  and  thereinto  enter 
ing,  did  betroth  you  to  Mr.  Timothy  Sniffkin." 

"  My  mother  !"  almost  shrieked  the  astonished  girl.  ((  My 
mother!  Impossible!  I  will  not  believe  she  acted  such  a 
part,  without  one  hint,  one  word  of  consultation  with  me  ou 
the  subject.  No,  I  will  never  believe  it,  sir,  till  she  come  up 
from  the  dead  to  confirm  the  slanderous  story." 

"  Woman  is  a  weak  vessel,"  at  length  responded  the  relent 
less  Deacon,  in  a  moderated  and  commiserating  tone,  rallying 
from  the  surprise  and  momentary  abashment  into  which  the 
bold  reply  and  the  bolder  intimations  of  the  aroused  maiden 
had  thrown  him — "  yea,  woman  is  verily  a  weak  vessel,  else 
the  word  of  a  high  and  never-before  doubted  officer  in  the 
Chun-h  of  God  h;id  never  thus  been  so  irreverently  gainsayed. 
But  I  am  not  here  to  bandy  vain  words  with  the  perverse  and 
petul;irit  on  the  question  of  my  own  truthfulness,  or  the  fitness 
and  wisdom  of  your  godly  mother's  doings,  for  it  is  not  need 
ful  that  I  should  do  either.  I  am  here  myself,  and,  in  her 
absence  in  another  and  better  world,  stand  clothed  with  full 
authority  to  act  in  the  premises,  and  carry  out  her  wishes  unto 
the  working  out  of  your  temporal  welfare." 

"  You,  sir  ?  What  right  have  you,  sir,  to  dispose  of  me  in 
marriage  without  my  consent?  Please  show  me  your  autho 
rity  for  such  a  strange  proceeding." 

"  Peradventure  you  will  not  fiud  me  wholly  unprepared  for 
8 


114  THE  DOOMED  CHIEF. 

to  meet  the  demand,  and  I  will  forthwith  do  so,  albeit  thy 
arrogancy  and  forwardness  little  deserveth  my  condescending 
thereto/'  replied  the  deacon,  with  an  air  of  cool  triumph,  as 
he  drew  out  a  paper,  and,  passing  it  to  the  other,  directed  her 
attention  to  the  last  clause  of  the  instrument. 

The  whole  of  it  was  in  the  hand-writing  of  Deacon  Mud- 
gridge,  but  signed  "  Richard  Southworth,"  and  in  the  bold, 
well  known  characters  of  the  colonel's  chirographyj  and  the 
clause  referred  to  ran  thus: — 

"  And  in  addition  to  the  aforesaid  appointing  of  the  said 
John  Mudgridge  to  le  sole  agent  and  manager  of  my  property, 
I  hereby  appoint  him  also  the  guardian  of  my  daughter 
Madian,  to  be  operative  in  case  her  mother  should  die  before 
she  arrives  at  the  lawful  age  of  twenty-one,  and  then  to  hold 
during  her  said  minority" 

With  paling  cheeks  and  growing  dismay,  the  trembling  girl 
slowly  read  the  fatal  paper  to  the  end  ;  when,  spurning  it  from 
her,  she  rose  and  stood  a  moment  confronting  her  persecutor, 
with  a  look  that  made  him,  with  all  his  self-assurance,  quail 
and  shrink,  as  some  foul  spirit  may  be  supposed  to  do  from 
the  rebuking  gaze  of  an  angel  of  light.  She  then  turned 
away  with  chilling  dignity,  and,  without  uttering  one  word  of 
comment  or  courtesy,  immediately  swept  out  of  the  apart 
ment. 

The  disconcerted  Deacon  sat  waiting  some  time,  often  un 
easily  glancing  towards  the  door  through  which  Madian  had 
so  unceremoniously  departed  for  her  expected  reappearance. 
But  he  waited  in  vain,  and  finally  rose,  took  up  his  hat  and 
church-going  cane,  proceeded  with  a  noisy  tread  to  the  front 
door,  and  there  also  stood  lingering  a  while  longer,  purposely 
hitting  his  cane  against  the  casing,  and  rattling  the  latch  to 
apprise  her,  if  within  hearing,  that  he  was  on  the  point  of 
going.  At  length  finding,  however,  that  none  of  these  arti 
fices  was  likely  to  induce  her  to  return,  he  reluctantly  mada 


THE  DEACON'S  SOLILOQUY.  115 

his  way  homeward,  increasing  his  speed,  under  the  goadingg 
of  his  gathering  vexation,  every  step  of  his  progress  and 
fiercely  muttering  to  himself  as  he  went  : — 

11  Now,  who  would   have  thought   it,  that   she  would  have 
broke  away  in  such  a  huff  ?     But  mayhap  it  is  better  as  it  is, 
than  if  I  had  charged  her  obstinate  standing-out  against  my 
plan,  to  her  secret  leanings  to  that  pestilent  Willis,  as    I  in 
tended,  if  she  had  not  run  away,  and  as  I  still  more  than  ever 
opine  to  be  the  true  reason  of  her  contumacy.      Yea,  I   think 
it  better  left  as  now;  for  the  prospect  looks  dubious  enough 
at  that.     Well,  well,  matters  are  safe  enough  I  think,  even  if 
this  plan  should  miscarry.      She,  nor  any  one  else  now  alive, 
can  know  much  about  the  amount  of  that  property  at  the  be 
ginning,  except  the  farm  and   things  visible  here,  which,  of 
course,  she  can   have  when  she   becomes  of  age.      But  then, 
again,  how  much  better  it  would  be  to  have  one  of  my  fan.ily 
and  under  my  control  placed  at  the  head  of  the  whole  matter, 
in  case  of  doubts  and  contingencies  sometimes  strangely  aris 
ing  !     Then  the  farm  itself,  with  the  rest  of  the  property  here 
— why,  is  not   that  worth  bringing  '...^  my  family,  and  keep 
ing  within  the  line  of  the  church,  umo  the  strengthening  of 
God's  heritage  ?     Of  a  verity  it  is.      And  why  can't  it  be  se 
cured  yet?  Am  I  thus  to  be  foiled  and   thwarted  in   this  vile 
manner,  by  a  silly  forward    girl?     Am    I    in  such    power   in 
church  and  state  for  nothing,  that  I  must  submit  to  such  a 
vexatious  rebuffing  at  such  feeble  hands  ?     And  is  it  not  all 
the  work  of  Sathan   and   that  accursed   Vane    Willis  ?      And 
haven't  I  enough  shrewdness  to  meet  and  whip  both  of  them 
on  their  own  ground  ?     Is  it  John    Mudgridge  that  can't  do 
this?     We'll  just  see —  ay,  by  the  Lord  of  Sabaoth,  and   it 
shall  go  hard,  if  I  don't  yet  see  my  plan,  even  to  the  last  jot 
and  tittle,  all  carried  out  and  accomplished/' 

When    Madia n    ascertained    that    the    Deacon    had    fairly 
made   good    his    exit   from    her    premises,    she  repaired,   it 


116  THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

being  by  that  time  in  the  dusk  of  the  evening,  to  the  room 
where  usually  were  found  sitting,  after  the  labors  of  the 
day,  her  two  faithful  domestics,  Taffy  and  Mag<iy  ;  who, 
though  now  on  the  downhill  of  life,  were  both  vigorous  and 
active,  and  still  found  competent  to  conduct  all  the  out-door  and 
in-door  labors  and  duties  of  the  establishment,  which  now,  since 
the  death  of  Mrs.  Southworth,  more  fully  than  ever  devolved 
upon  them.  She  had  often  taken  a  seat  with  them  when  she 
had  no  company  of  her  own  to  entertain,  to  while  away  the 
evenings  and  enjoy  their  society  ;  for  though  their  manners 
and  dialect  still  betrayed  their  purely  Celtic  origin  they  were 
quite  shrewd  and  intelligent.  But  this  evening  she  had  a 
particular  motive  for  holding  communion  with  them  ;  and,  in 
pursuance  of  her  object,  she,  after  a  few  commonplace  re 
marks  had  been  exchanged,  turned  to  the  man  and  said  hesi 
tatingly — 

"  Taffy." 

"  What's  your  wull,  my  young  leddy  ?"  responded  the  lit 
tle,  brisk  old  Welchman,  respectfully. 

"  Nothing  of  much  consequence  perhaps  ;  but  I  thought  I 
would  ask  you,  Taffy,  who  do  you  consider  to  be  in  control 
here — in  other  words,  who  do  you  consider  mistress  or  master 
of  this  establishment  ?" 

"  Who  mistress  of  this  dwalling-stead  and  land  gear  ?" 
asked  the  honest  Celt,  throwing  a  look  of  surprise  on  his  idol 
ized  young  mistress, — **  Why,  who  should  it  be,  but  my  )oung 
leddy  ?" 

"I  had  rather  supposed  so,  myself,  Taffy.  But  Deacon 
Mudgridge,  I  find,  claims  to  be  my  guardian,  as  well  as  mana 
ger  of  all  the  property." 

"  Aweel,  he's  frequent  speeched  that  to  me,  whan  he's  come 
epeerino:  about  the  wark  an'  things, — an'  I  list  to  what  he  said  re 
spectful  like,  to  plase  your  mother,  whan  live,  though  the 
Wark  an' all's  jist  as  gude  done  without  hiur.,  JJut  you' — 


DEACON  MUDGR1DGE  AS  GUARDIAN.        117 

eardian  you,  is  it  he  wud  ?  ^Thy,  what  is  the  long-faced 
carl  minting  at,  M;idian  ?" 

fl  I've  kenned  what  he's  minting  at,  this  long  while,"  here 
interposed  Maggy,  glancing  knowingly  from  her  husband  to 
Madian.  "  He  wants  a  good  maik  for  one  of  his  kin, — the 
short-faced  carl,  that  he  got  on  here  a-purpose.  But  he's 
ganging  for  more  than  he'll  ever  <ret,  I  hope." 

"I  hope  so,  too,  Maggy,"  said  Madian, — "  And  I  hope  you 
and  Taffy  will  stand  by  me,  in  case  of  need;  for  I  fear  he  in 
tends  to  make  me  trouble  about  the  affair.  He  has  got  a  pa 
per,  which  appears  to  have  been  signed  by  my  father,  and 
which  he  pretends  gives  him  authority  to  dispose  of  me  as  he 
pleases." 

u  Then  he's  got  a  paper  the  kurnel  wud  never  hev  writ  his 
name  to,  an'  he  had  thocht,  twud  force  his  dochter  to  wed  agin 
her  free  wull.  That  wud  not  be  kurnel  Southworth,  God  bless 
the  noble  man  !  But  he  were  so  hastened  and  fashed  up,  in 
getting  away  that  night  he  so  handsome  chated  the  gallows, 
the  cuss't  tyrants  over  the  water  thocht,  they  had  got  sure  made 
for  him,  that  he  might  not  hev  seen  the  effect  of  what  was  fixed 
up  for  him  to  sign  by  that  cunninir  church  carl,  that  has  so 
much  preach  about  the  c/ervices  of  Satlian.  It  might  be  that 
same,  or  it  might  be  some  tother  way  the  thing  got  fixed  so  j 
the  whilk  I  wud  rather  not  explicit  " 

"  Then,  Taffy,  your  thoughts  are  running  in  about  the  same 
direction  as  mine  ;  but  let  us  all  keep  our  own  counsel/' 

<k  That  I  wull  do  j  but  if  he  comes  speering  and  ordering  creat 
deal  mucher  about  the  wark  and  bizness  things,  with  the  leave 
of  my  youn<r  leddy,  I'll  not  budge  a  fot  for  him." 

"•  Nor  need  you ;  for  if  you  are  content  to  go  on,  and  be  as 
trusty  and  capable,  in  the  labors  and  management  of  the 
place,  as  you  and  Maggy  have  always  shown  yourselves,  I 
shall  be  happy  to  be  the  mistress  here,  without  much  help, 
either  from  Deacon  Mudgridgc  or  his  hopeful  nephew." 


118  THE    DOOMED   CHIEF. 

il  Ah,  now  that  is  the  old  kurnel  hisself,  speeching  through 
his  own,  whole-blue!  dochter  I"  exclaimed  Taffy,  who  had  long 
secretly  disliked  and  distrusted  Deacon  Mudgridge,  and  was 
consjquently  highly  gratified  with  this  discovery  of  his  young 
mistress's  views  and  feelings.  "  Maggy  !  my  dule  and  doubt  are 
over  !  It  is  all  right  with'  her,  she  shall  be  top  of  the  hnpe, 
in  spite  of  long-faces  or  short-faces,  deil  or  dummy.  Yes,  my 
braw  young  leddy,  you  shall  be  whole  mistress  here  till  you 
tak  one  of  your  own  chusing  to  hold  the  reins  with  you." 

"  And  whan  she  do  chuse,"  added  Maggy,  with  a  roj-uish 
glance  to  Madian,  "  I  hope  he  will  be  a  nary  worse  one  than 
the  goodly  young  man  that  helped  her  and  her  mother  thruugh 
the  snow-storm,  on  their  visit  to  Boston  two  year  agone." 

"  Tush  !  tush  !  Maggy,"  said  Taffy,  jocosely,  "  you  mak  my 
young  leddy  look  rud  in  the  cheek.  But  she  needn't  shame 
about  it ;  for  Vane  Willis  is  a  young  man  the  kurnel  hisself 
wud  be  proud  of." 

"  I  thank  you  both,"  said  the  blushing,  but  gratified  girl. 
"And  now,  as  I  think  we  all  understand  each  other,  I  will 
bid  you  good  night,  and  retire.  But  one  word  more,"  ad 
ded  she,  lingering  and  hesitating  in  the  door-way, — "  I  have 
some  reason  to  suspect  that  there  is  a  plot  afoot  to  work  mis 
chief  for  Mr.  Willis, — by  whom,  you  can  guess,  perhaps. 
Now  if  you  go  out  into  the  street  to-night,  Taffy,  you  might 
gather  something  about  it,  perhaps.  You  remember  the  at 
tempt  they  once  made  to  banish  my  father  on  charge  of 
Quakerism  ?" 

"  Certes,  I  do  ;  but  they  daur  not  come  to  drive  him  away ; 
an  they  had,  I  wud  hav  gin  my  old  flint-lock  a  warming  with 
gunpowder.  An  they  wull  as  little  daur  touch  Mr.  Willis, 
T  opine.  But  we'll  find  out  what  they're  at,"  he  added,  ta 
king  his  hat,  and  on  the  hint  thus  received,  immediately 
leaving  the  house  on  his  way  to  the  village. 

"  Let  others  do  the  talking,  and  you  the  listening,  Taffy;  if 


RETURN    OF    DICK    SWAIN.  119 

you  \vud  succeed  in  speiring  out  anything,"  said  the  shrewd 
Maggy,  calling  after  him. 

Having  thus  seen  love's  garrison  at  the  Southworth  dom- 
icil  put  in  as  good  a  state  of  defence  as  the  circumstances 
would  permit,  we  will  now  follow  Taffy  in  his  news-gathering 
rounds  through  the  village,  to  see,  with  him,  what  might  there 
be  going  forward. 

Sauntering  along  the  street,  with  an  air  of  indifference,  but 
with  all  his  senses  intent  on  whatever  came  within  their 
reach,  the  cautious  Welchrnan  at  length  reached  the  central 
square,  where  the  street  scene  described  in  the  opening  of 
the  last  chapter  occurred,  and  where  a  crowd  was  again  as 
sembled,  discussing  the  events  of  the  preceding  evenings,  and 
recounting  the  omens  and  prodigies  which  had  then  come  to 
light,  together  with  others  that  had  been  since  heard  of  as 
constantly  occurring  in  almost  every  part  of  the  country. 

When  Taffy  joined  the  group,  Dick  Swain  was  proceeding 
in  full  blast  with  a  description  of  his  adventure  with  a  proWl- 
ing  band  of  King  Philip's  Indians,  and  his  marvelous  escape, 
which  he  attributed  solely,  as  Willis  had  predicted  he  would, 
to  his  own  prowess. 

"  But  the  instigator  of  that  foul  deed,  which  came  so  near 
costing  me  my  life/'  he  added,  in  conclusion, — "  the  instiga 
tor  is  well  known  j  and  he  is  a  marked  man,  too,  as  you  might 
judge  for  yourselves,  maybe,  if  you  could  see  all  the  papers 
now  in  the  constable's  pocket." 

Others  then  held  forth  on  the  alarming  portents  of  the 
times — of  the  sights  seen  in  the  heavens,  and 

"Sounds  that  had  come  on  midnight  blast 
Of  charging  steeds  careering  fast, 
Along  the  mountain's  shingly  side 
Where  mortal  horseman  ne'er  might  ride." 

But  as  many  and  alarming  as  had  been  these  prodigies,  the 


120  THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

list  was  not  yet  completed.  While  the  excited  crowd  were 
still  engaged  in  discussing  those  that  had  occurred,  their  at 
tention  was  arrested  by  a  solitary  voice,  which  was  heard  rising 
from  some  elevated  point  in  the  distance.  All  wildly  started, 
and  then  fixed  themselves  in  an  attitude  of  intense  listening. 
For  a  moment  all  was  silent;  then  the  voice  came  swelling  on 
the  gentle  night  breeze  louder  than  before. 

Who,  or  what  could  it  be?  It  could  not  be  a  man,  they 
thought,  for  it  seemed  to  come  from  some  point  far  above  the 
level  of  the  earth  ;  and  besides  that,  there  was  a  strange  and 
awful  solemnity  in  the  tones,  that  recalled  the  conceptions 
they  had  formed  of  the  voice  of  a  warning  angel.  But 
"  Hark  !  hark  !"  they  cried,  in  eager,  half-whispered  exclama 
tions.  "  How  clear  and  distinctly  it  comes  now  !  It  utters 
words  !  there  !  listen  !  listen  !" 

"  Woe  to  this  wicked  land  !  woe  !  woe  to  the  inhabitants 
thereof  !  They  have  polluted  the  altars  of  the  Lord,  and  made 
many  to  stumble  at  his  law  by  their  works  of  injustice  and 
oppression.  Woe  !  woe  to  them  all,  for  fiery  judgments  are 
at  hand,  and  they  shall  be  humbled,  for  that  they  have  gone 
astray  and  done  wickedly — for  that  they  have —  I" 

Here  the  words  became  too  inaudible  in  the  dying  of  the 
breeze  that  had  wafted  the  sounds  to  the  ears  of  the  dismayed 
listeners,  to  enable  them  to  make  out  any  connected  sentence. 
But  the  voice  for  sometime  continued  to  reach  their  ears,  and 
enough  was  distinguished  to  tell  them  that  the  burden  of  the 
strange  message  was  one  of  solemn  warning,  and  predicted 
woe. 

It  were,  perhaps,  a  hopeless  task  to  undertake  to  make 
readers,  in  this  present  age  of  almost  entire  disbelief  in  aught 
not  explainable  on  natural  principles,  realize  how  great  was 
the  effect  produced  on  the  public  mind  at  that  time,  by  inci 
dents  of  the  character  we  have  introduced  here  and  in  ,-ome 
of  the  preceding  pages.  But  it  must  be  recollected  that  it 


INCREASING    MYSTERY.  121 

was  then  on  the  eve  of  the  great  moral  epidemic  which,  a  few 
years  later,  seized  on  the  public  mind,  and  became  fully 
developed  in  that  strange  and' fearful  delusion  now  familiarly 
known  under  the  appellation  of  the  Salem  Witchcraft,  and 
that  all  the  elements  that  produced  it  were  already  generated, 
and  would  have  now,  probably,  burst  into  action,  but  for  the 
powerful  diversion  of  the  current  in  which  the  thoughts  of 
men  were  running,  caused  by  the  terrible  realities  of  the 
desolating  war  that  intervened  The  class  of  theologians — 
t/eTTwrn-ologinna  they  might  more  properly  be  called — who  then 
controlled  public  opinion,  becoming  bewildered  in  the  fogs  of 
mystic  philosophy,  and  launching  out  on  its  sea  of  uncertain 
ties  till  they  were  hopelessly  beyond  the  moorings  of  reason, 
had  been,  for  many  years  previous,  palming  on  the  too  willing 
ear  of  the  multitude,  their  distempered  imaginings,  for  the 
doctrines  of  truth  and  revelation  ;  and  the  crop  that  ere  long 
sprang  up  was  but  the  natural  result  of  broad-cast  dissemina 
tion.  The  public  mind  became — only  more  intensely  like  that 
which  had  formed  it — dark,  mysticised,  bewildered.  Men  saw 
and  heard  strange  and  ominous  sights  and  sounds  in  all  the 
heavens  above,  and  on  the  earth  beneath.  To  their  distorted 
conceptions,  all  space  had  become  peopled  with  dark,  indefinite, 
mysterious,  and  questionable  incorporeal  agencies.  Spirits, 
sprites,  goblins,  gnomes,  demons,  and  devils,  of  every  class, 
size,  sh;tpe,  and  degree,  were  all  around,  above,  below,  upon, 
and  within  them ;  and  the  consequence  was,  that  a  whole 
people  came  near  perishing — not  from  the  lack,  but  the  reple 
tion  of  vision. 

But  to  return  to  the  incident  above  narrated.  Not  one  in 
ten  of  those  whose  senses  had  thus  attested  it,  probably,  had 
tlit  least  doubt  that  the  voice  and  words  that  had  so  myste 
riously  fallen  on  their  ears  had  proceeded  from  other  than  the 
human  organs  of  speech.  This  conviction  alone  was  enough 
to  fill  them  with  fear  and  perplexity,  while  the  words,  so  sig- 


12.J  TIIK    DOOMED    CHIEF. 

nificant  of  coining  evil,  completed  their  amazement  and  alarm. 
The  affair,  therefore,  as  well  might  be  expected,  spread  like 
wild  fire  through  the  town  and  surrounding  country,  and 
became  almost  the  sole  topic  of  conversation,  both  in  private 
circles  and  public  gatherings,  through  the  next  day.  There 
were  a  few,  it  was  true,  who  ventured  to  suggest  that  there 
might  be  some  misapprehension  or  mistake  about  the  alleged 
fact  that  a  voice,  uttering  intelligible  words,  had  been  heard. 
But  the  doubts  of  this  class  were  all  silenced  when  the  now 
almost  dreaded  darkness  had  again  shrouded  the  earth;  for 
then  the  same  clear,  trumpet-like  voice  was  again  heard  rising 
on  the  night  air,  and  pouring  forth,  in  solemn  and  pitying 
accents,  its  burden  of  prophetic  woe.  And  on  the  next,  and 
on  many  of  the  succeeding  nights,  the  same  awe-inspiring 
mystery  was  repeated;  and  then  it  was  heard  no  more.  But 
it  had  been  heard  enough  to  complete  the  work  of  agitation, 
arid  alarm  among  all  classes,  which  the  preceding  prodigies 
and  other  ill-omened  incidents  had  put  in  such  rapid  progress. 
The  court  of  Plymouth  were  called  together,  to  take  the 
alarming  aspect  of  public  affairs  under  consideration.  The 
leaders  of  the  church  also  held  a  special  conclave,  in  which, 
although  Deacon  Mudgridge  expressed  the  opinion  that  the 
voice,  which  had  been  the  greatest  cause  of  the  general  alarm, 
"  was  only  that  of  the  Man  of  Sin,  or  Great  Deceiver,  come 
to  distract  the  people  and  frighten  them  from  their  duty,"  it 
was  yet  at  length  decided  to  appoint  a  day  of  public  fasting 
and  prayer.  And  the  Deacon  and  his  Shadow  thereupon 
immediately  set  to  work  in  drawing  up  an  enumeration  of 
subjects  to  be  made  the  special  themes  of  humiliation  and 
pniyorful  confession  to  the  offended  Heaven  ;  among  the 
principal  of  which  was  "the  wicked  laxity  latterly  shown  by 
the  church  and  state  in  not  bringing,  as  formerly,  all  Quakers 
and  heretics  to  the  qondi^n  punishment  they  deserved,  and 


DEACON  MUDGRIDGE'S  PLAN.  123 

thereby  incurring  that  displeasure  of  Heaven  which  was  now 
threatening  to  visit  the  land  in  judgment." 

As  soon  as  this  was  arranged  by  the  church  leaders,  they 
joined  the  civil  functionaries;  and  their  united  deliberations 
soon  resulted  in  the  determination,  not  only  to  appoint  a 
public  fast,  and  carry  out  the  suggestions  of  MudgiMjie  in  re 
gard  to  Quakers  and  other  heretical  persons,  but  to  raise  a 
company  of  soldiers,  and  also  to  despatch  at  once  fast- riding 
couriers  to  the  sister  colony  of  Massachusetts,  to  invite  their 
co-operation  and  assistance,  by  sending  on  one  or  more  armed 
companies,  to  aid  in  the  war  which  had  now  been  shown  to  be 
inevitable  and  imminent. 

But  as  deeply  and  exclusively  as  the  subject  of  the  impend 
ing  calamities  of  war  were  occupying  the  minds  of  all  others, 
there  was  one  man  with  whom  these  matters  appeared  to  be  a 
secondary  interest.  During  all  the  commotion,  the  untiring 
Deacon  Mudgridge  had  never,  for  one  hour,  lost  sight  of  his 
determinate  project  of  uniting  his  nephew  and  Madian  South- 
worth  in  marriage.  Aud  instead  of  being  willing  to  await  the 
so  tening  influences  which  time  and  gentle  means  might  work 
on  her  feelings,  he  seemed  strangely  intent  on  pressing  the 
matter  to  an  immediate  issue.  After  brooding  a  day  or  two 
over  his  chafed  and  chagrined  feelinir,  occasioned  by  the  res 
olute  resistance  with  whicn  the  spirited  girl  had  met  his  in 
famous  requirements  at  the  interview  we  have  described,  he 
at  length  worked  himself  up  to  the  determination  of  staking 
all  on  a  bold  and  desperate  measure  to  forestall  her  opposition, 
believing  the  strength  of  his  position  and  his  influence  to  be 
sufficient  to  enable  him  to  carry  it  out  with  safety  and  success. 
This  new  and  bold  plan  was,  without  consulting  or  apprising 
Madian,  or  apprising  her  or  any  one  else  of  his  intention,  to 
cause  the  bans  of  the  projected  match  to  be  proclaimed  in 
church  the  next  Sunday.  And  it  was  done — to  the  utter  as 
tonishment  and  blank  dismay  of  the  unapprised  maiden,  it 


124 


THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 


was  shamelessly  done  in  her  own  presence  in  church,  at  the 
close  of  the  services,  while  the  people  were  already  in  motion 
to  depart.  Under  the  first  impulse,  she  tried  to  speak  out  to 
forbid  the  bans.  But  so  great  was  the  tumult  of  her  feelings 
that  her  tongue  utterly  refused  to  do  its  office  And  deeply 
muffling  her  face  in  her  veil  to  hide  her  emotions,  she  hurried 
home  with  a  heart  bur&ting  with  indignation  and  outraged 
pride  and  delicacy. 

But  we  do  not  propose  to  follow  the  doughty  Deacon  through 
all  the  measures  he  now  actively  put  in  motion,  under  the 
supposed  advantage  of  his  last  resort  for  sacrificing  the  girl  to 
subserve  his  own  selfish  purposes.  Suffice  to  say,  that  al 
though,  through  his  various  emissaries  and  tools,  he  worked 
untiringly  and  desperately  for  the  speedy  accomplishment  of 
his  base  purpose — although,  through  the  mistaken  construc 
tion  of  the  obstinate  silence,  into  which  the  menaces  of  him 
self  and  the  persecuting  importunities  of  his  minions  had  at 
length  driven  the  poor  girl,  he  had  taken  so  much  courage  as 
to  fix  on  the  day  for  the  wedding,  and  supposed  the  victory 
was  now  as  <_rood  as  won — he  was  yet  destined  to  disappoint 
ment.  He  was  doomed  to  undergo  the  mortification  of  wit 
nessing  the  failure  of  his  plans  in  a  manner  he  had  little 
anticipated,  and  to  guard  which  he  had  made  no  calculations. 
One  morning  Madian  Southworth  was  unaccountably  missing 
from  her  home  ;  and  no  one  could  tell  where  she  had  gone, 
or  what  fate  had  befallen  her,  even  Taffy  and  Mag<ry  profess 
ing  to  be  as  ignorant  and  anxious  on  the  subject  as  the  rest. 
And  notwithstanding  all  the  efforts  of  the  enraged  Deacon  and 
his  active  satellites,  not  the  least  trace  of  her  could  be  dis 
covered,  nor  any  satisfactory  explanation  found  for  her  mys 
terious  disappearance. 


A    MINGLED    MULTITUDE.  125 


CHAPTER   VII. 

"  Give  me  the  man  of  upright  heart 

Who  dares  the  truth  to  utter, 
And  act  the  noble,  manly  part 
Though  enemies  may  mutter  1" 

THE  next  successive  step  in  the  progress  of  our  eventful 
story,  will  take  us  to  the  quiet  banks  of  that  beautiful  but 
singularly  sinuous  river  of  eastern  Massachusetts,  which,  aftei 
meandering  its  way  full  one  hundred  miles  to  gain  one  fourth 
of  that  number  in  direct  distance,  and  thereby  embracing 
within  its  doubling  folds  more  than  twenty  of  the  best  and 
most  populous  towns  in  the  state,  comes  gently  urging  its 
tranquil  waters  to  its  briny  estuary,  where  now  lie,  in  the 
parent  city  and  its  clustering  appendants,  those  thronged 
marts  of  trade  and  wealth,  going  to  make  up  the  proud  em 
porium  of  New  England. 

In  an  extensive  grove  of  scattered  .pines,  on  the  banks  of 
the  stream  just  described,  near  the  point  where  the  brackish 
and  turbulent  waters  of  the  estuary  subside  into  those  of  the 
pure  and  gentle  river,  might  have  been  seen,  on  a  pleasant 
evening,  a  few  days  subsequent  to  the  events  narrated  in  the 
last  chapter,  a  mingled  multitude  of  men  and  boys  from  the 
neighboring  city,  occasionally  interspersed  by  a  few  shy,  ab 
ject  looking  natives  of  the  forest — some  listlessly  sauntering 
along  the  banks  of  the  stream  upward,  some  gathered  round 
a  number  of  light  shallops  and  skiffs  moored  to  the  shore  at 
the  lower  part  of  the  grove,  and  others  standing  in  scattered 
groups  further  in  shore,  and;  while  engaged  in  conversation, 


126 


THE    DOOMED    CiiII-:F. 


frequently  turning  an  eye  or  ear  towards  the  south  west, -as  if 
awaiting  the  sight  or  sound  of  something  expected  to  approach 
along  the  road  from  that  direction.  In  one  of  these  groups 
stood  our  young  hero,  Vane  Willis,  who,  it  will  be  recollected, 
had  avowed  his  purpose  of  coming  to  this  quarter  to  enlist 
some  chosen  friends  to  stand  ready  to  engage  with  him  in  re 
pelling  the  first  onset  in  the  war  he  so  confidently  anticipated. 
He  was  conversing  with  a  stoutly  built,  middle-aged  man, 
with  a  bronzed,  weather-beaten  visage,  and  a  frank,  resolute 
countenance.  Although  the  two  had  met  for  the  first  time 
but  an  hour  before,  yet  they  had  heard  of  each  other,  and 
were  now  conversing  with  a  freedom  and  confidence,  which  a 
mutual  appreciation  of  character  will  often  at  once  beget  be 
tween  the  greatest  of  strangers. 

"  I  have  now,"  said  Willis,  at  the  point  of  the  conversa 
tion  which  it  concerns  us  to  report — "  I  have  now  privately 
enrolled  in  your  colony,  Captain  Mosely,  a  dozen  choice  fol 
lows  that  I  have  been  with  enough  in  forest  hardships  and 
dangers,  to  know  the  mettle  they  are  made  of;  and,  within 
another  week,  I  will  have  twice  that  number  in  my  own  co 
lony,  equally  well  fitted  for  the  service.  And  having  ap 
pointed  a  midway  rendezvous,  we  will  all  be  ready  to  take  the 
field,  or  the  forest,  as  the  case  may  require,  within  twenty- 
four  hours  after  the  first  act  of  hostility  shall  have  oc 
curred." 

"  The  first  act  of  hostility  \"  exclaimed  the  other,  repeating 
the  words  in  surprise — "  Why,  that  has  already  occurred." 

"When  and  where  do  you  make  that  out?"  asked  the 
former. 

"  Last  week,  in  Plymouth,  as  I  supposed  you  knew,"  re 
plied  Mosely.  "  The  cussed  hell-hounds,  they  say,  came 
boldly  into  that  town  and  carried  off  one  of  the  citizens;  and 
though  he  escaped  with  his  life,  I  believe,  he  found  the  woods 
full  of  the  red  devils  preparing  to  fall  on  the  settlements.  It 


THE    CHURCH    QUESTION.  127 

was  that  news  which  the  messengers  brought,  with  what  waa 
known  before,  that  led  our  court  to  authorize  me  to  raise  the 
company  of  volunteers  I  have  been  telling  you  about." 

"  Thar  !  Oh,  that  was  no  very  serious  mutter,  I  fancy/' 
said  Willis,  smiling.  a  But  after  all,  it  is  well,  perhaps,  that 
it  happened  ;  for  it  may  arouse  the  Plymouth  leaders  to  a  sense 
of  the  dangers  they  have  incurred  by  their  own  short-sighted 
policy,  and  teach  them  the  necessity  of  preparing  for  a  blow 
which  is  now  sure  to  fall  upon  us  soon;  and  if  it  is  delayed, 
it  will  only  be  to  make  the  stroke  more  certain  and  heavy." 

"  Well,  people  are  so  excited  and  crazy  these  days  that  one 
scarce  knows  what  to  believe.  I  didn't  think  it  a  very  likely 
story,  myself:  nor  have  I  believed  any  thing  in  their  cussed 
mummery  about  the  signs  and  omens.  But  I  fully  agree  with 
you,  that  your  stupid  Plymouth  managers  have  brought  trouble 
on  us  all.  And  it  will  probably  be  found  that  you  and  I 
have  moved  none  too  early  in  the  business.  You  and  your 
company  of  woodsmen,  I  plainly  perceive,  will  be  just  the  fel 
lows  to  cope  with  this  kind  of  foe,  in  all  the  bush  fighting,  at 
least.  You  have  a  commission,  I  suppose  ? 

"  No;  I  and  my  boys  are  agoing  to  fight  on  our  own  hook. 
I  have  not  asked  for  a  commission,  and  having  openly  con 
demned  the  course  of  the  Plymouth  Court,  I  should  not  get 
one  if  I  had." 

"  I  shouldn't  think  you  need  have  much  trouble  about 
that,  my  young  friend;  you  belong  to  the  church,  of  course?" 

"No.  captain,  I  have  not  that  honor." 

"  Oh,  that's  it, — I  see  now, — there's  the  secret  of  your  diffi 
culty,  Willis.  I  could  not  have  got  up  a  single  peg  in  this 
colony,  an'  I  had  not  thrown  my  anchor  on  a  church  bottom." 

u  You  a  church  member  ? — You  who  was  brought  up  a  swear 
ing  soldier  in  the  English  army  that  took  Jamaica  from  the 
Spanish  ;  and  then,  if  they  didn't  belie  you,  Captain,  sailed 
some  time  with  the  West  India  buccaneers,  and  always  was  in 


128 


THE    DOOMED    CHIEF. 


the  habit  of  cursing  and  swearing  enough  to  throw  old  Shimei 
himself  into  the  shade. — You  in  the  church?" 

"  You  talk  rather  plainly  about  past  matters,  it  strikes  me, 
young  man.  And  if  you  was  one  of  your  mealy  mouthed  hypo 
crites,  you  and  I  would  see  who  was  the  best  man.  But  as 
you  are  one  of  the  sincere,  out  spoken  sort  of  fellows  1  like,  I 
will  take  no  offense  and  answer  your  question.  I  am  a  mem 
ber,  and,  for  anything  I  know,  iu  regular  standing  iu  the 
church." 

"  But  how  could  you  .get  in,  Captain  ?" 

"  I  will  tell  you,  as  it  may  be  some  use  to  you,  hereafter, 
perhaps,  though  the  less  you  mouth  it  the  better.  Well, 
when  I  nave  up  roving,  about  ten  years  ago,  and  settled  down 
here  to  be  something,  I  soon  saw  I  should  be  little  better  than 
nobody  at  all,  unless  I  got  into  the  church  ;  and  so  I  offered 
myself.  But,  fur  some  time,  owing,  I  was  told,  to  that  cuss'd 
habit  of  swearing  you  speak  of,  I  found  the  ^ate  shut  against 
me.  Well,  as  I  did  not  like  to  give  in  beat,  and  as  I  could 
not  break  up  the  habit.  I  cast  round  for  some  safe  outlet  for  it, 
which  I  at  length  found.  For  having  noticed  that  these  par 
ticular  church  gentry  had  a  sort  of  orthodox  fashion  of  swear 
ing  themselves,  about  the  men  and  things  they  hated,  T  im 
proved  on  the  hint  thus  obtained,  and  at  once  turned  all  my 
heaviest  batteries  upon  the  Quakers  and  heretics,  whom  I 
fhen  fell  to  cussing  and  damning  like  the  house  a  fire.  And 
the  result  of  it  all  was,  that  I  soon  \sailed  into  the  church- 
harbor  with  flying  colors." 

"  1  can't  say,  Captain,"  remarked  Willis,  good  humoredly 
shaking  his  head, — "  that  T  quite  approve  the  principle  you 
apear  to  have  acted  on  in  the  matter." 

"Nor  T,"  bluntly  responded  Mosely,  —  "I  know  well 
enough  that  it  was  a  cussed  mean  principle  ;  but  it  was  as  good 
an  one  as  the  strait  laced  times  would  admit.  If  it  was  a 
wrong  one,  the  responsibility,  I  hold,  should  be  on  those,  who, 


REMOVAL    OF    INDIANS.  129 

by  making  church-membership  the  only  stepping-stone  to  of 
fice,  tempted  me  to  resort  to  it.  They  could  not  expect  a 
fellow  of  any  gumption  was  a  going  to  sit  down  contented  to 
remain  at  the  lottom  of  the  heap  forever." 

"  But  you  must  surely  feel  a  reverence  for  religion  ?" 

"  Religion  ?  To  be  sure  I  do.  It  is  my  best  private  com 
forter.  But  what  has  that  to  do  with  the  church?  I  hold 
religion  to  be  quite  too  good  a  thing  to  be  mixed  up  with 
church  matters;  and  they  shall  never  have  mine,  I  swear  to 
them,  to  use  for  that  purpose/' 

"  Some  such  notions,  I  confess,  have  often  been  forced  on 
my 'mind;  for,  as  deeply  as  I  love  and  reverence  the  gospel 
of  our  Saviour,  I  cannot  agree  with  the  practical  construction 
so  often  put  upon  it  by  our  church  and  state  rulers,  in  their 
persecutions  of  dissenting  sects,  and  in  their  violation  of  the 
rights  of  the  Indians,  even  where  the  poor,  trusting  creatures 
have  become  their  own  converts,  as  in  the  cruel  and  unneces 
sary  measure  which  we  are  now  waiting  to  see  executed,  and 
which  will  probably  make  scores  of  them  enemies,  who,  if  let 
alone,  might  be  made  useful  friends  in  the  approaching 
war." 

"  Yes,  a  cussed  foolish  buzziness,  as  I  have  told  them,"  re 
sponded  the  blunt  captain.  "  But,  hark  !  was  not  that  the 
blast  of  a  trumpet?  Ay,  ay,  there  they  come!  Captain 
Prentiss  and  his  rod  brood  just  heaving  in  sight,  yonder," 
added  the  speaker,  pointing  up  the  road,  round  a  distant  curve 
of  which  a  well  mounted  military  officer,  with  a  trumpeter  at 
his  side,  followed  by  a  strong  company  of  cavalry,  enclosing  a 
motley  body  of  two  or  three  hundred  Indians  of  all  ages  and 
sexes,  hurrying  along  on  foot,  came  sweeping  into  view. 

The  occasion  of  this  unwonted  spectacle,  as  may  have  been 

already  partly  inferred  from  the  closing  words  of  the  foregoing 

dialogue,  as  well  as  of  the  assembling  of  those  here  present, 

to  witness  it,  was  the  removal,  under  an  order  of  the  Gen- 

9 


130  THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

eral  Court,  of  the  large  body  of  christianized  fndians  who  Had 
long  since  been  peacably  located  at  Natic,  and  who  were  now 
being  conducted  by  a  military  force  to  this  place  for  embark 
ation,  in  boats,  for  their  destination  on  Deer  Island,  lying 
outside  of  Boston  harbor,  at  too  great  a  distance  from  the 
main  land,  it  was  supposed,  to  permit  of  their  escape. 

Nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century  before  the  period  of  which  we 
are  writing,  the  self-sacrificing  John  Eliot,  the  St.  John  of 
the  new  world,  who,  instead  of  aspirins:  to  the  positions  of 
honor  and  influence  among  his  own  people,  to  which  his  ac 
knowledged  talents  and  learning  would  have  doubtless  elevated 
him,  devoted  all  the  energies  of  his  life  to  the  work  of  chris 
tianizing  the  natives  of  the  forest,  had  seen  the  great  wish  of 
his  heart  realized  in  the  permanent  settlement  of  a  large  body 
of  his  red  disciples  at  Natic.* 

After  the  most  unwearied  efforts,  he  had  succeeded  in  ob 
taining  the  cession  of  the  five  or  six  thousand  acres  of  land, 
which  was  to  constitute  this  Indian  town,  from  the  inhabitants 
of  Dedham,  who  appear  to  have  claimed  the  tract  as  part  of 
their  own  territory.  Next,  he  procured  a  quit  claim  convey 
ance  of  the  tract,  from  one  Speene  and  his  associates,  who,  on 
their  part,  claimed  the  original  right  of  soil;  and,  finally,  to 
make  the  grant  doubly  secure  against  future  contesting  claim 
ants,  he  had  obtained  for  it  the  formal  confirmation  of  the 
General  Court  of  the  Colony. 

Here  the  indefatigable  apostle  to  the  wild  children  of  the 
forest,  as  he  has  been  so  justly  called,  had  gathered  in  his 
disciples  from  all  quarters,  joined  them,  with  the  labors  of  his 
own  hands,  in  building  a  bridge  across  Charles  river,  which 
ran  through  the  town  \  in  erecting  a  spacious  meeting-house  as 
the  general  centre  of  their  Christian  worship ;  and  lastly,  in 

*  So  named  by  the  Indians  at  the  time  of  its  occupancy.  The  word  Na- 
tic,  in  their  own  language,  signifying  a  place  of  hills.  See  Spark's  life  of 
Eliot. 


INDIAN    SETTLEMENT    AT    NATIC.  131 

building  permanent  dwelling-houses  for  a  village,  and  for  an 
agricultural  independent  community,  which  no  earthly  powers 
had  the  right  to  molest,  so  long  as  engaged  in  the  peaceful 
pursuit  of  their  avocations. 

Here  the  gratified  leader  had  spent  months  and  months, 
through  a  period  of  more  than  twenty  years,  in  privately  in 
structing  his  trusting  and  devoted  followers  in  the  arts  of 
civilized  life,  in  civil  polity  for  the  government  of  their  com 
munity,  and  especially,  in  the  simple  but  sublime  truths  of 
Christian  revelation.  Plere,  he  statedly  preached  to  them  in 
the  loved  tabernacle  which  he  had  helped  them  to  build  and 
consecrate,  and  to  which,  on  each  hallowed  Sabbath  morning, 
they  came  flocking  at  the  beat  of  a  drum,  like  loving  doves 
to  their  windows.  In  short,  he  had  labored  and  lived  to  see 
his  hopeful  flock  here  permanently  settled — gaining  year  by 
year  in  temporal  thrift  and  moral  elevation,  and  in  making 
such  a  progress  in  Christian  knowledge  and  virtue,  as  to  have 
gained  for  them  as  a  church,  the  full  acknowledgment  and 
fellowship  of  all  the  white  Christian  churches  in  the  colony. 
And  he  had  not  only  beheld,  as  he  did  with  unspeakable  sat 
isfaction,  the  practicability  of  his  great  experiment  for  chris 
tianizing  the  red  men,  thus  measurably  demonstrated  to  the 
doubting  world,  and  his  labors  of  love  crowned  year  after  year 
with  a  more  and  more  perfect  success ;  but  he  had  lived  to 
enjoy  the  additional  gratification  of  beholding  the  natural 
antipathies  of  the  people  at  large  against  the  objects  of  his 
affectionate  solicitude,  to  all  appearance,  nearly  overcome,  or 
so  far,  at  least,  that  they  began  to  be  looked  upon  as  fellow- 
men,  and  entitled  to  the  ordinary  privileges  of  humanity. 

But  latterly,  a  change  had  come  over  the  spirit  of  the  peo 
ple.  The  jealousy  and  hatred  which  h  d  been  long  springing 
up  between  the  colony  at  Plymouth,  and  King  Philip  and  his 
subjects,  and  which  had  now  come  to  a  crisis,  had,  within  the 
last  year  or  two  beeu  rapidly  spreading  among  the  colonists 


132  THE   DOOM£D   CHIEF, 

of  Massachusetts,  who  hitherto  had  treated  the  natives  with 
much  more  fairness  than  had  been  shown  them  by  the 
people  of  Plymouth,  and  had  so  little  sympathized  in  the 
fears  and  suspicions  of  the  latter  as  to  have  ot'len  interposed 
to  rebuke  and  quiet  their  growing  disaffection. 

At  the  present  juncture,  however,  the  old  antipathies  of  the 
Bay  colonists  seemed  not  only  to  have  been  fully  revived,  bat 
now  to  have  been  fanned  tu  a  flame  by  the  startling  news  from 
Plymouth.  They  everywhere  began  to  look  upon  the  natives 
with  distrust,  and  whatever  their  tribal  relations,  or  whatever 
their  character  for  friendliness  or  Christian  conduct,  to  place 
them  all  in  one  and  the  same  category — that  of  the  natural 
enemies  of  the  white  men.  And  the  General  Court,  sharing 
in  the  prevalent  excitement  and  alarm,  had  not  only  taken 
Steps  to  raise  military  forces,  but  passed  a  decree  for  the  forci 
ble  removal,  or  rather  virtual  imprisonment  of  the  praying 
Indians.  Accordingly,  the  thorough  going  Captain  Prentiss 
had  been  promptly  dispatched  with  his  company  of  cavalry  to 
their  principal  establishment  at  Natic,  to  drive  them  from 
their  doubly  guaranteed  homes  and  possessions,  and  conduct 
them  off,  like  a  gang  of  slaves,  to  a  barren  island  which  could 
afford  them  at  best,  but  a  pitiable  subsistence. 

In  a  short  time  the  showy  and  domineering  cavalcade  with 
their  long  line  of  sorrowing  victims,  came  pouring  along 
against  the  landing,  where  the  boats  were  in  waiting  to  receive 
them  j  when  the  sharp,  -stern  voice  of  Captain  Prentiss  was 
heard  commanding  a  halt,  and  issuing  his  orders  for  an  im 
mediate  embarkation. 

At  this  moment  a  plainly  dressed  man  of  a  clerical  air,  and 
a  meek,  pleading  countenance,  was  seen  hastening,  with  the 
quick,  tremulous  steps  of  age,  from  a  neighboring  coppice, 
and  eagerly  making  his  way  through  the  crowd  towards  the 
spot  where  the  officer  just  named  sat  on  his  horse,  giving  di 
rections  to  his  subordinates  ~especiing  the  business  on  hand. 


ELIOT,    THE    INDIAN   APOSTLE.  133 

It  wns  the  good  Eliot,  the  Indian  Apostle,  whose  body,  worn 
and  exh;iust"d  in  the  willing  service  of  benefiting  the  red  man, 
WMS  now  tottering  on  the  brink  of  the  grave,  but  whose  soul 
was  still  glowing  with  the  intensity  of  his  love  and  yearning 
solicitude  for  the  unfortunate  race,  for  whose  eternal  welfare 
he  had  spent,  without  hope  of  any  earthly  reward,  all  the  best 
part  of  his  laborious  life.  He  had  heard  of  the  project  of 
their  cruel  and  unwarranted  banishment  with  deep  surprise, 
and  with  feelings  of  unspeakable  anguish.  He  had  remon 
strated  with  the  leading  men  of  the  court,  and  persevered  in 
his  intercessions  until  he  had  brought  upon  himself  the  con 
tumely  of  both  the  rulers  and  the  people,  who  h;id  now  become 
so  crazed  with  fear  and  excitement,  as  not  only  to  look  upon 
all  the  praying  Indians  as  secret  plotters  in  aid  of  the  im 
pending  war,  but  to  regard,  with  dislike  and  suspicion,  every 
white  man  who  ventured  to  speak  a  word  in  their  defence. 
But  he  might  as  well  have  remonstrated  with  the  angry  bil 
lows  of  the  ocean  for  dashing  over  their  usual  limits  when 
lashed  into  blind  fury  by  the  power  of  the  natural  tempest. 
And  having  found  all  his  remonstrances  and  intercessions 
wholly  ineffectual,  and  having  that  morning  seen,  with  an 
aching  heart,  the  troops  depart  to  carry  the  despotic  order 
into  execution,  he  had  come  here  to  take  a  sad  farewell  of  his 
beloved  flock,  minister  to  them  the  consolations  of  the  gospel, 
and  offer  up  for  their  future  welfare  and  safety  his  prayera 
and  intercessions  to  Him,  with  whom,  he  felt  he  might  plead 
unrebuked  for  that  answer  of  peace  which  he  had  failed  to 
receive  from  men  who  professed  to  worship  the  same  God 
with  himself,  and  who,  at  that  very  hour,  perhaps  were  thank 
ing  him  for  the  success  of  their  unholy  doings  in  the  present 
outrage. 

As  the  venerable  man  passed  along  through  the  yielding 
throng,  who  seemed  to  shrink  from  his  presence  as  from  the 
contact  of  a  leper,  many  a  spiteful  hiss  reached  his  ears,  and 


134  THE   DOOMED    CHIEF. 

many  a  pointed  finger  of  scorn  greeted  his  eyes ;  but,  heeding 
none  of  them,  he  pressed  on  to  the  side  of  the  stern  commander 
and  mceKly  asked  his  attention  in  listening  to  "  a  respectful 
request  for  a  small  favor,  the  granting  of  which  would  be 
received  with  much  gratitude." 

"Favor !  what  favor,  old  man  ?"  gruffly  responded  the 
officer,  looking  down  with  an  air  of  mingled  impatience  arid 
disdain  upon  the  meek  suppliant. 

"  These  once  wild  but  now  well  meaning  people,  Captain 
Prentiss,"  respectfully  but  earnestly  urged  the  aged  inter 
cessor,  "  have  for  more  than  a  score  of  my  weary  years,  been 
the  especial  subjects  of  my  ministerial  labors.  I  love  them 
as  children  ;  and  they  have  come  to  look  on  me  as  their  fa 
ther  and  friend  ;  and  the  favor  I  have  to  ask,  is  to  be  per 
mitted,  for  one  short  hour,  to  hold  a  little  meeting  with  them, 
in  some  secluded  corner  of  this  shady  grove,  where  unmo 
lested,  I  may  commune  with  them,  pray  with  them,  and  give 
them  my  parting  counsels.  I  cannot  think  the  General  Court 
would  refuse." 

"  Yes,  yes,  T  hear  you,  sir,"  impatiently  interrupted  the 
other.  "  But  instead  of  receiving  such  an  undeserved  per 
mission,  to  enable  you,  for  ought  I  know,  to  preach  to  them 
a  little  more  of  the  sedition  you  are  suspected  of  by  some, 
shouldn't  you  be  well  satisfied  with  the  favor  the  Court,  has 
already  mercifully  vouchsafed  you,  in  that  you  are  not  driven 
off  with  them  Y9 

Repeated  bursts  of  laughter  ran  through  the  crowd,  in  snvnge 
approval  of  the  words  of  the  last  speaker,  who,  after  glancing 
around  with  a  gratified  air  a  moment,  was  about  to  resume; 
when  Captain  Mosely,  who  had  stood  by  witnessing  what  took 
place,  promptly  stepped  forward,  and  in  his  abrupt,  bold  man 
ner,  exclaimed, 

"Avast!  there,  Captain  Prentiss.  This,  to  be  sure,  is  none 
of  my  commands,  or  my  business — thank  God  for  it! — and  I 


A  FRI'KND  IN  NEED.  135 

don't  wish  to  interfere;  but,  natheless,  I  may  suggest  whether 
we  had  better  do  any  thing  that  will  make  the  Indians  them 
selves  blush  for  us.  We  must  recollect  that  these  poor 
creatures  have  not,  as  yet,  done  any  thing  blameworthy;  and 
as  tliey  are  about  to  be  shipped,  both  they  and  their  preacher 
very  naturally  want  a  little  talk  and  worship  together,  and  I 
move  they  have  the  permit.  I  will  be  answerable  for  all  the 
sedition  Father  Eliot  will  preach  to  them;  for,  to  say  nothing 
about  you,  captain,  I  wish  to  God  I  was  half  as  good  a  man 
as  I  believe  him  to  be." 

A  visible  frown  passed  over  the  sternly  grave  countenance 
of  the  military  bigot  who  had  been  selected  for  the  present- 
service,  but  he  was  evidently  staggered  by  the  plain  remarks 
of  Mosely,  who,  whatever  his  faults,  was  a  great  favorite 
among  the  common  people,  and  who,  as  the  former  perceived 
from  sundry  manifestations  of  applause  with  which  his  remarks 
were  also  in  turn  received,  was  not  without  a  strong  party  in 
the  crowd  to  sustain  him;  and  the  result  was,  that  Captain 
Prentiss,  after  a  brief  consultation  with  his  lieutenant,  com 
manded  the  attention  of  his  company,  and  announced  to  them 
that,  "as  Captain  Mosely  had  agreed  to  become  responsible 
for  the  Indians  in  charge,  while  they  and  their  minister  should 
hold  a  short  prayer-meeting,  the  troop  might  now  take  a  respite 
of  one  half  hour,  at  the  end  of  which  they  must  all  be  in 
readiness — one  half  to  take  the  horses  round  to  Boston,  and 
the  other  half  to  go  with  him  in  the  boats  to  take  the  sus 
pected  heathen  crew  to  theii  destination." 

"Captain  Mosely,"  said  Willis,  who  had  retained  his  place 
at  the  side  of  the  other,  and  had  been  the  most  out-spoken  of 
all  in  approval  of  his  course,  "  I  shall  always  honor  you  for 
your  fearless  and  humane  interposition.  They  not  only  meant 
to  insult  Father  Eliot,  but  deprive  him  of  all  chance  to  speak 
to  his  flock.  But  here  he  comes  to  thank  you  himself,  I 
presume." 


136  THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

"It  is  truly  so,"  said  the  good  old  man,  feelingly,  as^he 
warmly  grasped  the  rough  palm  of  the  captain,  while  a  tear 
was  starting  to  his  eye,  and  his  lips  began  to  tremble  with  his 
grateful  emotions.  "  Sir,  I  th — ank  you, — thank  you  fur  this ! 
May  God  bless  you.  Yea,  and  you,  too,  young  man,  for  ap 
proving  the  kind  act.  You  both  shall  have  my  prayers." 

"  Well,  we  need  'em  bad  enough — at  least  I  do,"  responded 
Moselyj  "but  no  thanks,  Father  Eliot j  I  don't  deserve  'em, 
for  I  spoke  out  for  myself,  being  riled  uli  up  to  see  them  u.se 
you  so,  like  cussed  Arabs." 

"  Oh,  don't  curse  them,"  said  the  other,  "don't  curse  them. 
They  knew  not  what  they  did.  Let  it  all  pass.  But  they 
have  allowed  me  brief  time— I  must  improve  it,"  he  added, 
turning  away  and  hastening  to  a  little  elevation,  where  he 
could  be  seen  and  heard  by  all  of  his  dusky  flock. 

"My  children!"  he  then  cried,  in  the  most  touching 
accents  of  affection,  "we  have  found  friends,  and  they  have 
prevailed.  We  are  to  be  indulged  in  a  short  meeting.  So 
follow  TTie,  now — follow  me,  my  children." 

The  gratified  apostle  then  with  hurraing  steps  led  the  way 
to  a  place  in  another  part  of  the  grove,  which  he  seemed  to 
have  already  selected  fur  the  purpose  j  while  the  agitated  mass 
of  his  devoted  followers,  with  eyes  gleaming  with  joy  and  love, 
and  with  the  confiding  alacrity  of  a  brood  of  chickens  running 
at  the  call  of  the  feathered  parent,  went  streaming  along  after 
him.  When  he  reached  the  allotted  place,  which  was  an  open 
grassy  plat,  surrounded  with  low  evergreens,  lie  took  his  stand 
in  the  centre,  and,  with  a  countenance  working  with  emotion, 
he  motioned  them  to  arrange  themselves  around  him.  He 
then  commenced  the  loving  ceremony  of  taking  them,  one 
after  another,  individually  by  the  hand,  exchanging  with  them, 
in  broken  utterance,  the  mutual  salutations,  and  ministering 
to  them  all  the  words  of  faith  and  Christian  consolation. 

"  Hard,  hard,  farder  Eliot,"  said  these  subbing  children  of 


FATHER   ELIOT'S   PRATER.  137 

persecution,  as  thev  came  up  to  grasp  the  proffered  hand  of 
tneir  idolized  pastor,  and  to  water  it  with  their  tears — "  hard 
go  away  so!  never,  may  be,  come  back  again  !  then  no  more 
Natic  home,  no  more  green  fields,  no  more  good  houses,  no 
more  meeting  house,  no  more  pray  there,  no  more  preach,  no 
more  see  good  farder  Eliot — Oh,  hard,  hard  !" 

"  Yes,  yes,  my  beloved  children,"  would  reply  the  weeping 
pastor,  to  remarks  like  these,  "  it,  is  indeed  a  sore  trial,  and 
hard  to  be  borne  ;  but,  we  must  all  bow  to  the  will  of  the 
Great  and  good  One  above,  who  has  doubtless  ordered  it  for 
wise  purposes,  and  our  own  benefit.  It  has  often  been  so 
with  the  followers  of  the  Lamb,  who  has  told  us,  that  through 
much  tribulation  we  must  enter  the  kingdom  of  God." 

At  the  conclusion  of  this  touching  scene,  in  which  more 
than  half  the  allotted  time  had  been  spent  in  thus  commin 
gling  their  sorrows  and  sympathies,  he  asked  them  all  to 
kneel  on  the  ground  closely  around  him.  Readily  compre 
hending  the  object,  they  immediately  gathered  up,  dropped 
upon  their  knees  in  thickly  encircling  lines,  and  reverently 
bowed  their  grief-bedewed  faces  to  the  earth  ;  when,  with  his 
thin,  trembling  hands  widely  spread  over  them,  the  silvery 
locks  of  his  uncovered  head,  rising  and  falling  in  the  fitful 
evening  breeze,  and  the  fast  coming  tears  coursing  down  his 
furrowed  cheeks,  the  good  and  guileless  old  man  lifted  up  his 
broken  voice  and  prayed — 

"  0  thou  good  and  merciful  God,  who  hast  proclaimed  thy 
self  the  father  of  all,  are  not  these  poor,  suffering,  and  sor 
rowing  ones,  all  thy  children  ?  Are  they  not  as  dear  to  thee, 
and  as  much  entitled  to  thy  kindly  regard,  as  thoge,  whom, 
in  thy  ever  wise  dispensations,  thou  hast  permitted  thus  to 
afflict  them?  We  entreat  thee,  then,  0  heavenly  Parent,  as 
much  of  the  red  man  as  the  white — our  Father,  and  their  Fa 
ther — our  God,  and  their  God — we  entreat  thee,  in  the  faith 
and  love  thou  hast  planted  with  thine  own  hand  in  the  yearn- 


138  THE  DOOMED  CHIEF. 

ing  bosom  of  thy  unworthy  servant — we  earnestly  entreat 
thee  to  take  them  under  thy  especial  care  and  protection,  do 
ing  unto  them,  and  for  them,  according  to  their  need  and 
their  weakness,  to  enable  them  to  bear  up  under  the  heavy 
hand  of  the  strong  that  has  now  been  so  grievously  laid  upon 
them.  Give  them  of  the  fullness  of  thy  grace  and  love. 
JMake  pood  unto  them  all  the  peace  and  satisfaction  of  which 
their  misguided  oppressors  may  now  perchance  be  deprived, 
for  their  offences  towards  these  little  ones,  of  the  same  Chris 
tian  family.  Take  them  by  thy  fostering  and  fatherly  hand, 
and  lead  them  in  pleasant  places.  Provide  for  all  their  tem 
poral  wants.  Vouchsafe  to  them  thy  choicest  blessings. 
Minister  unto  them,  and  comfort  them  in  all  their  trials  and 
afflictions.  Guard  them  from  all  the  forms  of  sin  and  tetnp- 
tation.  Constantly  reveal  thyself  to  them  in  thine  unerring 
Spirit,  as  a  light  to  guide  their  feet  in  their  strivings  onward 
along  their  dim  pathway,  to  a  more  perfect  righteousness 
above.  Guide  them  safely  through  this  thorny  vale  of  life; 
and  finally,  0  merciful  Redeemer,  gather  them  all  to  the  great 
fold  of  thy  loved  and  accepted  ones  in  heaven." 

The  last  word  of  this  impassioned  appeal  to  heaven  in  be 
half  of  this  injured  flock  of  converted  and  affiliated  Indians, 
had  scarcely  died  away  among  the  whispering  pines,  bt-fore 
the  stern,  harsh  voice  of  Captain  Prentiss,  now  seen  gallop 
ing,  with  fiercely  waving  sword,  towards  the  spot,  was  heard 
authoritatively  exclaiming — 

u  Turn  out !  turn  out  there  !  ye  moping  mischief  brewers. 
Your  time  is  up.  Budge  along  here,  then,  to  the  boats  ;  and 
step  lively,  every  soul  of  ye,  or  I'll  have  a  platoon  of  troopers 
at  your  heels!" 

With  the  hurried,  apprehensive  motions  of  a  gang  of  slaves, 
sharply  threatened  with  the  lash  of  the  master,  the  Indians 
bade  their  now  doubly  dear,  earthly  shepherd  a  hasty  fare- 
Well ;  for  they  saw  he  was  too  much  overpowered  by  his  emo- 


139 

tions  to  follow  them  on  their  thronged  way  to  the  landing, 
whtjre  they  had  hoped  he  would  repair  to  give  them  his  final 
blessing.  But  though  deprived  of  this  satisfaction,  they  were 
not  to  be  left  without  a  compensating  comfort.  Through  the 
openings  of  the  swaying  shubbery,  they  occasionally  caught 
precious  glimpses  of  his  revered  person,  still  standing  on  the 
consecrated  spot,  where  solitary  and  silent,  he  was  now  affec 
tionately  stretching  out  his  arms  towards  them,  and  now  rais 
ing  them  aloft,  as  if  to  snatch  from  Heaven  one  more  blessing 
on  their  departing  heads. 

If  there  is  any  form  of  worship  among  men  acceptable  in 
the  sight  of  heaven,  it  must  be  the  secretly  offered  incense  of 
a  trusting  and  devoted  heart  j  when  words  and  thoughts  are 
breathed  and  shaped  in  the  conscious  absence  of  all  human 
witnesses.  If  men  ever  pray  worthily,  and  in  the  unalloyed 
sincerity  of  their  hearts,  it  is  then  ;  for  who  shall  say,  how 
many  detracting  thoughts, — how  many  shades  of  unworthy 
feeling,  or  vanity,  the  lurking  love  of  approbation,  or  the  fear 
of  giving  offence,  may  throw  over  the  petitions  of  men  pray 
ing  in  public?  Many  a  public  prayer,  we  fear,  has  been 
framed  less  for  the  acceptance  of  Heaven,  than  the  admiration 
of  men. 

After  father  Eliot  had  stood  some  time  indulging  in'his 
grief,  and  in  the  outpourings  of  his  heart  in  secret  prayer,  he 
turned,  with  heavy  steps,  to  depart;  when  he,  for  the  first 
time,  became  aware  that  the  scene  just  described  had  not  been 
without  a  concealed  witness,  whose  searching  scrutiny  above 
that  of  all  other  men,  he  would,  under  the  peculiar  circum 
stance,  have  been  the  most  anxious  to  avoid.  But  for  a  new 
ecene,  let  us  take  a  new  chapter. 


140  THE  DOOMED   CHIEF. 


CHAPTER   VIII. 

"  Kind  nature's  commoners,  from  her  they  drew 

Their  needful  wants,  and  lenrn'd  not  how  to  hoard; 

And  him  whom  strength  and  wisdom  crown'd  they  knew, 

But  with  no  servile  reverence,  as  their  lord. 

And  on  their  mountain  summits  they  ador'd 

One  gre.it  good  Spirit,  in  his  high  abode. 

These  simple  truths'  went  down  from  sire  to  son, 

To  reverence  age, — the  sluggish  hunter's  shame, 

And  craven  warrior's  infamy  to  shun, — 
And  still  avenge  each  wrong  to  friend  or  kindred  done." 

EASTBURNE. 

WHILE  father  Eliot,  as  mentioned  at  the  close  of  the  last 
chapter,  was  turning  away  from  the  place  where  he  had  been 
mournfully  lingering,  with  thoughts  still  dwelling  on  the  de 
parted  objects  of  his  solicitude,  his  attention  was  suddenly 
arrested  by  the  sound  of  a  footfall  behind  him,  and  almost  at 
the  same  instant,  by  a  light  tap  on  his  shoulder.  Wheeling 
quickly  around,  in  the  surprise,  he  found  himself  confronting 
a  tall,  commanding  figure,  garbed  in  an  English  dress  through 
out,  and  so  little  darker  in  complexion  than  many  of  the 
bronzed  seamen  every  day  to  be  encountered  at  the  neighbor 
ing  port,  that  he  might  well  have  been  taken  for  one  by  those 
who  had  never  before  encountered  him,  and  noted  his  pecu 
liarly  piercing,  yet  mild  and  pleasant  countenance.  But  Eliot 
had  done  both  ;  and,  after  gazing  a  moment,  doubtfully,  upon 
the  intruder,  who  had  receded  a  step,  and  stood  with  folded 
arms,  smilingly  waiting  to  see  if  he  could  be  recognized,  the 
former  said — 


AN    UNEXPECTED    MEETING.  141 

"King  Pliilip !  Is  not  this  King  Philip  of  Mount 
Hope  ?" 

"%Yes,  Mr.  Eliot." 

u  But,  King  Pliilip,  what  has  brought  you  here  so  unex 
pectedly  ?" 

"  I  came  into  this  colony  to  see  for  myself  wha.t  was  doing 
here  about  tilings  need.ul  for  me  to  know,  Mr.  Kliot.  I 
came  to  this  spot  for  the  same  purpose,  it  may  be,  as  you 
did." 

"  And  have  you  witnessed  the  little  meeting  I  have  just 
had  with  my  Christian  flock,  at  this  place  ?" 

"I  have — I  stood  in  the  bush  near  by,  saw  all — heard 
all." 

"  I  feared  so — T  am  sorry,  King  Philip." 

"  Why  should  Mr.  Eliot  be  sorry  ?  His  words  were  good 
— they  were  very  kind  to  the  red  men." 

"  1  am  sorry,  because  I  fear  you  will  argue  wrongfully 
about  our  religion,  on  account  of  the  treatment  you  may  have 
seen  some  Christian  white  men  bestowing  on  the  undeserving 
red  men,  to-day." 

u  Why  argue  wrong,  if  /  did  argue,  as  you  may  well  say 
you  fear  I  would  ?  Your  Bible  say — you  preach  yourself — the 
tree  is  known  by  the  fruit  it  grow.  I  told  y»»u,  Mr.  Eliot, 
when,  many  moons  ago,  you  come  to  Montuup  to  .*ee  you 
could  make  me  praying  Indian.  I  told  you  thru  your  reli 
gion  not  worth  one  of  the  buttons  on  your  coat.  I  had  often 
seen  what  it  made  white  men  in  Plymouth.  I  now  have  seen 
what  it  make  them  here." 

"  Oh,  you  must  not  judge  our  religion  by  the  mistaken 
conduct  of  its  professors  in  some  cases,"  responded  the  other, 
in  evident  distress,  and  in  no  small  strait  to  know  how  to  re 
pel  the  inference,  which  his  conscience  told  him  the  conduct 
of  his  people  had  given  his  shrewd  opponent  too  much  reason 
for  drawing.  "  Professors  often  go  astray,  and  do  very  wruug. 


142  THE   DOOMED   CI11EF. 

But  if  they  are  so  prone  to  do  wrong  with  religion,  what  might 
they  not  do  without  it  ?" 

"  You  may  best  answer  that  question  yourself,  Mr.  Eliot; 
and  I  will  put  another  to  go  along  with  it  : — If  Indians  be 
such  devils,  hell  hounds,  damned  bad  men,  as  you  whites  call 
them,  without  your  religion,  what  would  they  be  if  they  Inid 
it?  No,  no,  Mr.  Eliot,  though  you  be  a  good  man,  I  don't 
want  your  religion  for  my  people — certain  not  while  there  are  so 
m;my  white  Christians  in  the  land  to  bring  it  into  disgrace  in 
the  eyes  of  Indians.  If  we  red  men,  as  in  times  long  gone, 
were  all  the  people  this  side  of  the  great  water,  it  might  be 
different.  In  such  case,  I  sometime  said,  may  be  I  would 
like  to  try  it  for  my  people." 

"Oh  !  the  misconduct  of  professing  Christians  that  are  thus 
bringing  our  religion  into  reproach  among  those  who  would 
otherwise  receive  it !  King  Philip,  you  judge  erringfy.  The 
treatment  you  may  have  received  from  a  few  has  embittered 
you  against  all.  We  have  taken  no  part  against  you  in  your 
difficulties  with  the  Plymouth  people;  and  yet,  it  is  now  said, 
you  are  about  to  wage  a  bloody  war  with  us  all.  The  people 
of  this  colony  are  greatly  alarmed;  and  the  court  have  ap 
pointed  a  commissioner  to  set  out  immediately  for  Mount 
Hope,  to  see  you,  remonstrate,  and  treat  with  you.  That  com 
missioner  applied  to  me,  this  very  morning,  to  go  with  him; 
and  I  was  to  give  him  my  answer  at  this  place,  where  I  pre 
sume  he  is  still  lingering  about  the  landing  to  receive  it. 
Shall  I  tell  him  you  will  be  there  to  receive  us?" 

"No;  too  late  Your  colony  are  doing  things  that  make 
it  not  possible  to  treat  with  them.  Tell  him  no  use  to  go. 
I  shall  not  be  at  Montaup." 

"  Then  why  not  hear  him  here?" 

"  I  said  no  use. — I  say  a<;ain.  But  I  would  hear  his  talk 
if  he  came  alone,  or  only  with  you,  Mr.  Eliot." 

"  Then  I  will  straightway   go  and  see  if  I  can  find   him. 


KING   PHILIP   AND   THE   COMMISSIONER.  143 

But  see  !"  added  the  anxious  intercessor,  pointing  to  a  well 
dressed  man  imperfectly  seen  through  the  shubbery  making 
his  way  in  that,  direction,  and  peering  around  him  as  if  in 
search  of  some  one, — "See  tliere  conies  the  very  man, —  in 
search  of  me  probably.  I  will  go  forward  and  speak  to  him  ; 
when  we  will  both  immediately  come  here  for  the  interview. " 

Eliot  thereupon,  hurried  away,  met  the  commissioner  in 
question,  when,  after  apprising  him  of  the  circumstances 
just  related,  and  holding  a  brief  conversation,  the  two  ad 
vanced  to  the  spot  where  the  proud  chieftain  stood  waiting  to 
afford  the  promised  interview. 

Eliot,  in  a  kind  and  courtly  manner,  went  through  the  cere 
monies  of  the  introduction;  when  IM  eta  com,  with  the  dignity 
and  grace  for  which  he  was  so  remarkable  on  these  occasions, 
advanced,  shook  hands  with  the  commissioned,  and  then,  rece 
ding  a  step,  respectfully  awaited  the  expected  communication. 

"  King  Philip,"  said  the  commissioner,  after  a  long,  hesita 
ting  pause,  "  news  has  reached  us,  that  you  are  about  to  make 
war  against  the  colonies.  Our  governor  and  council,  who 
have  appointed  me  to  hold  parley  with  you,  cannot  understand 
how  you  can  have  any  cause  of  war  against  the  colony  of  Massa 
chusetts,  who  have  always  tried  to  stand  peace-makers  between 
you  and  the  Plymouth  colony.  And  they  instruct  me  to  ask 
you  why  you  have  thus  declared  war  against  us?" 

"  I  have  not  declared  war  against  your  colony,"  responded 
the  chief,  with  cool  dignity.  "  My  war  is  with  the  court 
and  people  of  Plymouth.  But  if  the  court  of  Massachusetts 
make  movement  looking  to  join  the  Plymouth  men,  then  they 
make  themselves  all  one  of  my  enemies." 

"  But  we  have  made  no  such  movements,"  deprecatingly 
said  the  commissioner. 

"  May  be,"  replied  Metacom  with  increasing  coolness  and 
an  air  of  irony.  "  May-be  the  court  have  sent  a  commissioner 
to  treat  of  peace  without  letting  him  know  they  are  all  the 


144  THE   DOOMED    CHIEF. 

while  preparing  for  war.  If  that  be  not  so,  what  looks  it  to, 
the  forcibly  drivinir  away  the  peaceable  red  men  of  Natic  from 
the  homes  and  lands  tlvy  own  as  much  as  your  rich  men  own 
their  houses  in  Ho?* ton  ?  And  what  looks  it  to,  the  raising  of 
a  war  armed  company,  under  Captain  Mo-ely,  to  march  to 
help  the  Plymouth  colony?  The  commiiwioner  do*-s  not 
appear  to  be  well  ilMlllteted  about  what  his  colony  is  doing." 

"  You  wrongly  interpret  these  movements,"  replied  the 
nonplussed  commissioner,  who,  as  was  evidently  the  case  with 
nearly  all  the  public  men  of  that  period,  had  yearly  under 
rated  the  Indian  character,  and  especially  that  of  Philip,  and 
then-fore  was  not  prepared  to  find  such  a  knowledge  of  the 
secret  movements  of  the  court  in  his  opponent — "You  make 
too  much  oi*t  o-f  them,  and  I  hope  you  will  still  consent  to 
treat  for  peace  with  our  governor." 

"  Your  governor?"  haughtily  responded  the  proud  monarch 
of  the  Wampanoogs — "  Your  governor  is  a  Subject  of  King 
Charles  of  England.  I  shall  not  treat  with  a  subject.  I  shall 
now  only  treat  with  the  king,  iny  brother.  When  he  comes, 
I  am  ready." 

This  unexpected  declaration  of  Metacom — who,  believing 
he  had  now  fully  fathomed  the  secret  designs  of  Massachusetts 
to  take  part  with  the  colony  of  Plymouth  in  the  war  against 
him,  felt  consequently  not  a  little  indignant  that  the.  former, 
while  privately  instituting  hostile  movements,  were  hypocri 
tically  pretending,  in  public,  to  desire  to  treat  with  him  for 
the  continuance  of  a  peace  which  he  had  never  Violated  — 
this  declaration,  as  he  intended  it  .should,  brought  to  an  abrupt 
termination  the  conference  with  the  commissioner,  who  at 
tempted  no  reply.  Father  Eliot,  however,  began  c;irn<-.sr]y  to 
it  Philip  to  pause  before  lie  should  take  any  steps  which 
should  involve  alike,  perhaps,  all  the  white  men  and  the  red 
men  «f  New  Krrjland,  in  a  war  of  blood  and  de-.ohitiun.  But 
the  immtneuble  chief  interrupted  by  saying — 


DEI'AUTUttK    OF    KING    PHILIP.  145 

"No  use — no  use  to  talk,  Mr.  Eliot.  Your  people  are  not 
lilf"  you.  You  may  speak  Cor  your>elf,  and  I  will  tell  you, 
that  whatever  come,  you,  family,  property,  will  all  he  safe 
from  the  rod  men.  But  speak  no  more  for  (hem  T]L<'IJ  have 
told  me  in  deeds,  which  always  speak  louder  than  words  with 
the  In.di;m,  what  they  will  do.  It  is  not  my  fault.  They  will 
have,  it  so.  And  as  they  have  chosen  their  own  path,  let 
them  walk  in  it." 

With  this,  and  a  distant  parting  bow  to  the  commissioner, 
and  a  kindly  one  to  father  Eliot,  he  turned  away  and  disap 
peared  in  the  nearest  thicket,  on  his  way  to  the  then  unbrokeu 
forests  of  central  Massachusetts,  whither,  for  awhile,  at  least 
we  propose  to  accompany  him. 

The  j^reat  leader  of  the  Wampanoogs,  whose  warlike  ach 
ievements,  during  the  terrible  year  now  close  at  hand,  were 
destined  to  carry  death  and  dismay  into  every  white  settle 
ment  in  New  England,  was,  at  this  period,  in  the  very  flower 
of  his  manhood,  his  age  being  not  much,  if  any,  above  thirty. 
And  in  him  might  be  seen  the  rare  spectacle  of  a  man  uniting 
in  himself  the  highest  grade  of  intellect  with  the  most  perfect 
ph\sical  conformation  of  b<>dy,  and  the  greatest  degree  of  ex 
terior  grace  and  manly  beauty.  He  was,  indeed,  in  appearance, 
as  in  reality  a  king — every  inch  a  king,  having  descended  from 
a  long  line  of  royal  ancestors,  who.  contrary  to  the  prec-  dents 
of  most  or  all  other  tribes  of  North  American  Indians,  had, 
at  some  distant  point  in  the  past,  established,  and  had  ever 
since  successfully  maintained  an  unbroken  hereditary  suc 
cession  of  the  crown  in  their  family.  He  was  deeph  sensible 
of  the  tremendous  hazard  he  incurred  for  himself  and  peo 
ple,  by  engaging  in  a  general  war  with  the  white  men.  And 
he  had  accordingly  watched,  with  a  sovereign's  solicitude, and 
with  a  Sovereign's  jealousy  and  alarm,  the  aggressive  policy 
of  the  colonists,  which  he  believed,  was  intended  to  be.con- 

Bumniated  in  reducing  hiai  and  his  people  to   a  state  of  the 
10 


146  THE    DOOMED   CHIEF. 

most  abject  submission,  if  not  unconditional  slavery,  or- in 
their  entire  extermination.  For  himself  and  his  proud  tribe, 
they  had  already  decided  on  the  Roman  alternative  of  death 
before  slavery.  But  were  they  to  maintain  the  fight  single- 
handed  and  alone,  without  the  aid  of  the  other  New  England 
tribes,  who  ought  to  see,  he  thought,  the  same  fate  in  reserve 
for  themselves?  And  having  spent  the  whole  of  the  past 
week  in  a  laborious  reconnoissance  of  the  condition  of  both 
the  Plymouth  and  Massachusetts  colonies,  he  was  now  about 
to  enter  on  the  next  step  of  his  plan — that  of  obtaining,  if 
possible,  the  promise  of  a  favorable  answer  to  the  above  ques 
tion. 

As  soon  as  the  cautious  chief,  who,  on  leaving  his  company, 
had  steered  in  a  direction  nearly  opposite  from  the  one  he 
intended  taking,  found  himself  safely  beyond  the  reach  of 
their  senses,  he  struck  off  in  a  line  parallel  with  the  upward 
banks  of  the  Charles.  Making  his  way  with  long,  rapid  steps 
and  amazing  celerity,  he  pursued  his  undeviating  course  three 
or  four  miles,  and-until  he  reached  the  point  where  the  stream 
comes  down  from  a  considerable  sweep  to  the  northward  ;  when 
he  paused,  and  fixed  his  course  through  the  woods  across  the 
bend,  so  as  to  strike  the  river  again  where  it  touches,  or 
rather  passes  through,  a  cluster  of  lakelets,  which  it  had 
reached  near  its  last  great  bend  from  the  south  to  the  east. 
Another  hour  of  his  rapid  walking  brought  him  to  the  pine- 
clad  shore  of  the  largest  of  these  ponds;  when  he  paused, 
drew  a  small  bone  whistle  from  his  pocket,  and  blew  a  low, 
long,  and  peculiarly  modulated  blast,  that  thrilled  far  and  wide 
through  the  gloomy  recesses  of  the  silent  forests  around.  In 
a  moment,  the  call  was  answered  from  a  dense  thicket  border- 
ing  the  western  extremity  of  the  pond,  about  a  quarter  of  a 
mile  distant.  Bending  his  steps  towards  the  spot  indicated  by 
the*  answering  sound,  and  by  the  gleams  of  light  which  now 
goon  occasionally  shot  through  the  dense  undergrowth  from 


AN    INDIAN   CAMP.  147 

the  same  direction,  Metacom  in  a  short  time  came  upon  a 
large  camping  bower,  with  a  cheerful  fire  blazing'  on  the  ground 
before  it.  The  next  moment,  ten  well  armed,  noble-looking 
Indian  warriors  emerged  from  the  shantee,  and  falling  into  a 
dressed  line  before  him,  respectfully  saluted  him  as  their 
sovereign  master.  They  were,  with  one  exception,  a  band  of 
his  most  trusty  and  sagacious  Wampanoogs,  come  there,  by  his 
appointment,  to  hold  with  him  a  council,  and  receive  from  him 
such  missions  as  could  best  be  determined  on  after  the  com 
pletion  of  the  reconnoissance  in  which  he  had  been  engaged. 
Having  returned  their  salutations  with  graceful  dignity,  he 
followed  them  into  the  camp,  when  they  all  sat  down  to  a 
plentiful  repast,  consisting  of  fresh  fish  and  venison,  which 
had  that  afternoon  been  taken  from  pond  and  surrounding 
forest  by  the  devoted  band,  and  prepared  and  kept  in  readiness, 
untas'ed,  for  the  expected  reception  of  their  royal  leader. 
With  the  usual  taciturnity  of  their  race,  they  dispatched  their 
meal  in  almost  unbroken  silence.  Then  followed,  with  an 
almost  equal  absence  of  conversation,  the  customary  filling, 
lighting,  and  smoking  of  the  neatly  curved  stone  tobacco  pipes, 
with  which  they  generally,  as  now,  were  found  well  provided. 
After  this,  Metacom  rose  and  commenced  the  expected  nar 
ration  of  the  discoveries  he  had  made  among  the  Bay  colonists, 
minutely  describing  every  event  and  circumstance  believed  to 
have  any  bearing  on  the  object  of  their  common  solicitude — 
the  evident  suspicion  and  alarm  among  the  people,  their  grow 
ing  bitterness  towards  the  Indians,  their  secret  preparations 
for  aggressive  warfare,  and  lastly,  what  he  considered  more 
significant  than  all,  the  outrageous  policy  they  had  so  unex 
pectedly  adopted  towards  the  praying  Indians. 

Low  exclamations  of  alternate  surprise,  indignation,  hatred, 
and  defiance,  had  burst  from  the  lips  of  the  swarthy  warriors, 
during  the  speaker's  recital  of  the  different  parts  of  his  sub 
ject ;  and  as  he  closed  the  last  one,  respecting  the  course 


148  THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

taken  towards  the  praying  Indians,  their  eyes  elenmed  with 
savage  delight,  and  their  exclamations  rose  to  a  loud  yell  of 
exultation;  for  their  sagacity  at  once  told  'hem,  th.it  the  col 
onists  in  this  short  sighted  measure,  had  given  them  an  ad 
vantage  in  the  game  of  war,  which  might  easily  be  turned  to 
good  account. 

"  Good  !  my  brothers  understand,"  resumed  the  speaker, 
after  a  long,  significant  pause,  in  which  he  glanced  approvingly 
round  from  one  face  to  another  among  his  keenly  appreciating 
auditors,  as  they  sat  round  the  flickering  fire  with  their  burn 
ing  eyes  fixed  intently  upon  him,  "  My  brothers  see  it  all 
now.  My  brothers  see  that  the  men  of  Massachusetts,  in 
speaking  smooth  things,  and  the  words  of  friendship  to  M eta- 
corn  and  his  people,  have  been  speaking  with  forked  tongues. 
My  brothers  now  see  how  these  smooth  tongued  pale  faces 
can  talk  peace  when  they  mean  war.  My  brothers  see  how 
they  must  hate  the  red  men — so  much  hate  that  they  rob  and 
seize  for  prisoners  even  those  they  have  made  praying  Indians, 
taken  by  the  hand,  and  called  friends  and  brothers.  My  bro 
thers  here  are  convinced;  for  they  see  now  what  the  white 
man's  faith  is  when  given  to  the  Indian — the  frost  of  a  spring 
morning  that  turns  to  mist  before  the  noonday  can  come  to 
see  it.  Hut  will  these  cheated,  praying  Indians  see  it  with 
the  same  eyes  ?  They  must  see  it  all  now,  and  be  ready  to 
come  back  to  the  ways  of  their  fathers.  Metacom  would  then 
have  some  of  his  warriors  go  to  them — go  to  morrow  to 
Squantum  ;  take  over  canoes  to  them  so  that  they  can  escape 
from  the  island  before  they  are  shipped  off  and  sold  as  slaves. 
Tell  them  to  come  and  join  Metacom,  and  he  will  make  them 
men  and  warriors.  Let  two  of  my  brothers  do  this,  and  Jet 
two  others  go  and  tell  the  same  story  to  all  the  praying  Indians 
at  Punkapog,  Neponsit,  and  Noriantum.* 

*  Locations  in  Stonghton,  Dorchester.  ami  Newton,  where  small  commu 
nities  of  praying  Indians  were  also  established. 


INDIAN    COUNCIL.  149 

w  Mctacom  has  now  done,  till  some  of  his  brothers  have 
spoken.  What  news  brings  Anns  wan  from  Montaup?  Anna- 
wan  is  n>y  father's  old  friend,  counselor,  and  war  captain,  and 
with  an  old  warrior's  eye  has  no  doubt  noted  how  the  young 
warriors  feel  since  Metacom  left  them,  and  what  preparations 
they  are  making  for  war?  Let  him  speak.  The  ears  of  Me- 
tacorn  are  open." 

On  this,  a  warrior  of  sixty  winters,  but  with  a  frame  of 
iron,  and  an  eye  glowing  with  the  fires  of  youth,  slowly  rose 
and  s;iid  : 

"  The  young  warriors  are  ready.  They  are  more  than  ready 
They  burn  for  battle  and  blood.  When  Metacom  came  home 
from  Plymouth,  and  told  them  at  the  council  and  the  war- 
dance  how  the  court  had  choked  their  friends  and  brothers, 
they  howled  !  Metacom  knows  how  loud  they  all  howled  for 
revenue.  And  when  Metacom  told  them  they  should  have  it, 
and  if  they  would  wait,  till  he  had  made  the  preparations,  he 
himself  would  lead  them  to  war,  they  rejoiced — every  Warn- 
panoog  in  the  land  rejoiced.  They  all  frll  to  sharpening  their 
knives  and  hatchets,  making  bullets,  and  getting  their  guns 
ready  for  the  onset.  They  now  only  wait  the  signal  from  Me 
tacom." 

"  It  is  well,"  resumed  the  former — "  it  is  well  to  be  ready. 
But  the  young  warriors  must  not  he  so  impatient,  as  to  hurry 
them  on  to  deeds  of  war  before  the  time.  This  is  what  I 
fear.  Metacom  thinks  it  is  for  Anna-wan  to  see  to  this  j  for 
he  only  may  be  able  to  restrain  the  fiery  young  braves.  Let 
him  therefore,  hasten  back  to-morrow,  and  tell  them  we  are 
yet  ready  only  for  some  small  blow,  that,  if  struck  now,  may 
prevent  the  great  one  we  intend  Tell  them  we  shall  have 
now  to  meet  the  more  powerful  Bay  colony  as  well  as  the 
weaker  Plymouth,  and  therefore  have  a  double  preparation  to 
make;  and  tell  them  more,  that  Metacom  is  laboring  *br  his 
life  to  make  his  side  strong.  He  is  now  going  to  th?  chief 


150 


THE    DOOMED    CHIEF. 


village  of  the  Nipmncks,  at  Wachu^etts  mountain,  to  noM  a 
war  council,  before  the  Massachusetts  commissioners,  who  are 
to  start  in  three  days,  can  get  there  to  make  a  treaty  of  peace. 
He  must  then  go  to  other  tribes  till  he  has  visited  every  one 
from  the  great  rivers  of  the  east  to  the  long  river  of  the 
west,*  to  hold  war  talks  with  them,  and  make  them  take  up 
the  red  hatchet  he  will  lay  at  their  feet  -f 

"  But  now,"  continued  the  speaker  turning  from  the  oldest 
to  the  youngest  of  the  band.  "Now  Metacom  would  be  pleased 
to  hear  Quinapin,  whom  he  is  g'ad  to  see  here  among  his  war 
riors.  Quinapin  is  a  sachem  and  friend  to  the  "\Vampanoogs. 
Does  he  bring  good  news  from  his  tribe?  or  will  his  tribe  be 
better  pleased  to  stand  with  folded  arms  in  the  coming  war 
and  see  the  Warapanooga  carry  off  all  the  glory  ?" 

The  Indian  thus  flatteringly  and  skillfully  addressed,  was  a 
tall  lusty,  showy  young  Narraganset,  who  being  but  one  of 
the  smaller  sachems  of  his  tribe,  was  ambitious  of  preferment, 
and  courting  an  alliance  with  the  renowned  king  of  the  \Vam- 
panoogs,  who,  in  the  fiery  but  beautiful  Wetainoo,  had  a 
queen  sister  who  had  driven  off  her  last  husband  for  his  friend 
ship  to  the  whites,  and  whose  hand,  if  it  could  be  obtained, 
would  ennoble  the  proudest  warrior  of  the  land.  Metacom 
had  known  his  desires  without  encouraging  his  hope  ;  but  he 
now  evidently  resolved  to  favor  his  suit  as  a  means  of  bring 
ing  about  the  close  alliance  he  was  anxious  to  establish  with 
the,  powerful  tribe  of  the  Narrajjansets,  whose  co-operation  in 
the  coming  war  was  of  the  utmost  importance. 

"  Quinapin  believe  the  young  warriors  all  right,"  replied 
the  obviously  flattered  young  sachem.  "  They  all  little  love 

*  The  Connecticut,  the  name  being  an  Indian  word  signifying  Lony  River. 

—  SCHOOLCRAFT. 

•(•  The  mode  of  courting  nn  alliance  among  Indians,  is  for  the  chief  re 
questing  it  to  approach  the  other  pnrty  in  council,  and  lay  n  hatchet  painted 
red  ;it  their  feet;  when,  if  the  hntchet  is  taken  up  by  the  latter,  the  alli 
ance  is  regarded  as  fully  consummated. — CAUVER. 


CLOSE   OP    THE   COUNCIL.  151 

the  pale  faces,  and  would  love  the  fight.  But  Ninigret,  the  chief 
Sa^a  nore  of  the  Narrugapsets,  is  very  old, — his  eyes  are  dim. 
He  is  like  a  little  child,  and  does  not  like  to  hear  about  war. 
Yonng  Nanunteuoo  is  the  panther  of  the  tribe,  and  will  soon 
be  the  great  chief.  Metacom  should  see  him."  , 

"  Metacom  will  see  him  and  see  the  young  warriors,"  re 
sponded  the  former,  cordially.  "  Let  Quinapin  go  home  to 
morrow,  and  tell  his  people  what  he  has  heard  ;  and  tell  them, 
also,  Metacom  will  be  there  in  four  days  with  the  pipe  of 
peace  for  them,  and  the  red  hatchet  for  his  enemies.  Let 
Quinapin  prepare  for  the  council,  and  Metacom  is  his  friend 
in  all  his  wish." 

This  appeared  to  end  the  conference  or  council  of  the  war 
riors,  which,  though  but  three  of  them  had  made  any  continu 
ous  remarks,  had  yet  been  so  interlarded,  at  the  various  pauses 
of  the  speakers,  by  the  significant  monosyllabic  expressions  of 
the  rest,  as  to  make  it  evident,  that  the  whole  subject  under 
consideration  was  too  well  understood  and  appreciated  by  all, 
to  require  any  further  discussion.  All  matters  of  public  con 
cern  being  now  dropped  by  common  consent,  the  band  slightly 
replenished  their  fire,  refilled  their  pipes,  and  commenced  tho 
dreamy  regalement  of  their  native  weed,  for  the  last  time  be 
fore  betaking  themselves  to  their  nightly  repose.  When  this 
once  peculiarly  aboriginal  process  of  narcotic  imbibition,  which, 
strangely  enough,  is  about  the  only  habit  we  have  ever  bor 
rowed  from  the  Indians, — one  vice  to  not  one  of  their  virtues, — 
when  this  process  was  completed,  these  stoic  philosophers  of 
the  woods  closely  gathered  their  blankets  around  them,  threw 
themselves  down  upon  their  primitive  evergreen  couches?,  and 
lulled  by  the  drowsy  monotony  of  the  piping  frogs  along  the 
shore,  mingling  with  the  Eolian  music  of  the  pines  above  their 
heads,  were  soon  all  locked  in  those  sweet  slumbers  which  are 
alike  the  boon  of  the  savage  and  civilized  wood-man. 

The  next  morning  the  invigorated   warriors  sprang  from 


152  THE   DOOMED    CHIEF. 

their  sylvan  couches  with  the  first  broad  flush  of  the  dawn, 
rekindled  their  tire,  prepared  their  breakfast,  speedily  de 
spatched  it,  and  packed  up  for  an  immediate  departure.  Their 
leader  then  briefly  repeated  the  instructions  of  the  preceding 
evening,  and  sent  six  of  their  number  away  on  their  allotted 
missions;  he  next  drew  out  from  his  well-filled  wardrobe  pack, 
which  had  been  brought  to  this  place  by  his  orders,  a  light 
Indian  traveling  dress,  and  donned  it  in  place  of  the  English 
disuuise-garments  he  had  been  weaving  on  his  tour  of  observa 
tion  snnonir  the  whites.  And  thus  equipped  fur  the  start,  he 
led  the  way  for  his  four  remaining  followers  into  the  forest, 
and  set  his  course  for  his  destination  beneath  the  lofty  \Va- 
chusett,  whose  looming  summit  even  there  was  seen  peering 
up,  for  their  land-mark,  just  over  the  long,  blue,  misty  line 
of  the  western  horizon. 

Instead,  however,  of  following  them,  as  one  after  another, 
with  ceaseless  tread,  they  silently  and  swiftly  threaded  the 
continuous  recesses  of  the  diversified  forest,  during  that  long 
summer  day,  we  will  now  change  the  scene  to  the  mountain 
village  of  red  men,  which  circumstances  had  made  the  object 
of  their  forced  and  weary  march. 

On  a  sunny  plateau,  at  the  foot  of  the  majestic  mountain 
we  have  named,  where  the  uniting  streams  of  crystal  waters 
come  dashing  down  from  the  precipitous  heights  above,  to 
form  the  extreme  sources  of  the  romantic  Nashua,  stood  the 
sixty  or  seventy  wigwams  which  constituted,  at  the  period  of 
which  we  are  writing,  the  favorite  and  most  populous  village 
of  the  numerous  Nipmucks,  whose  whole  territory  embraced 
all,  and  more  than  all,  the  present  great  agricultural  county 
of  Worcester. 

On  the  evening  of  the  day  in  question,  this  village  was 
swarming  with  an  extra  population  of  red  men,  who  had 
gathered,  and  were  still  fast  gathering  in  from  other  villages 
or  scattered  residences  in  the  country  round  about,  for  the 


BUILDING    OF    THE    COUNCIL    LODGE.  153 

purpose  of  being  present,  evidently  on  some  unusual  occasion 
On  an  open  and  well  smoothed  piece  of  ground,  near  the  ce» 
tre  of  the  village,  a  score  of  men  were  busily  engnged  in 
erecting  a  capacious  arbor  fashioned  structure,  nearly  sixty 
feet  long,  fifteen  feet  wide,  and  of  a  height  corresponding  to 
the  width,  the  frame  work  of  which  was  formed  by  bending 
very  lonir,  slender  poles,  and  inserting  the  ends  in  the  ground 
at  equi  distant  spaces.  While  such  numbers  were  engaged  6n 
the  spot,  an  equal  or  greater  number  were  employed  in  bring 
iriir  from  the  surrounding  forest,  another  and  smaller  set  of 
poles  to  weave  in  later. illy  for  ribs  to  the  structure,  together 
with  large  quantities  of  freshly  pealed  bark  boards  to  serve 
for  its  covering.  An  air  of  anxious  haste,  so  unusual  with 
the  red  men,  was  every  where  perceptible  among  the  company 
thus  employed,  who,  up  to  this  time,  had  been  working  with 
the  eager  alacrity  of  a  community  of  beavers,  prompted  evi 
dently  by  their  wish  to  get  their  fabric  completed  before  dark, 
to  be  in  readiness  for  the  reception  of  some  great  assemblage 
then  expected  to  occur.  But  as  the  descending  sun  to  which 
for  the  last  hour,  they  had  thrown  many  an  anxious  glance 
while  plying  their  work,  now  sunk  behind  the  mountain,  and 
the  shades  of  evening  began  to  gather  over  the  long  reach  of 
spreading  forests  lying  beneath  th^rn  on  the  east,  they  ap 
peared  to  see  that  the  idea  of  accomplishing  their  task  that 
night  was  a  hopeless  one.  They  gradually  relaxed  their 
efforts,  and  at  length  wholly  abandoned  the  work,  and  stood, 
some  looking  with  pride  on  the  result  of  their  labors,  some 
wandering  listlessly  around  the  grounds,  and  some  engaged  in 
conversation  about  the  arrival  which,  a  messenger  had  the 
evening  previous>apprised  them,  might  about  this  hour  be  ex 
pected. 

At  that  juncture,  a  loud,  shrill,  long  drawn  sound  rose 
from  the  fore>t  below,  arousing  every  man,  woman,  and  child  of 
the  thronged  village  from  their  listle.ssne.^s ;  and  they  were  all 


154  THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

now  seen  hurrying  forward  with  excited  looks  to  join  the  central 
gathering  of  the  eager  expectants. 

"  It  is  his  whistle  !  Metacom  !  the  brave  Metacom  !  the 
Great  Sagamore  is  corning  !"  at  length  passed  rapidly  from 
mouth  to  mouth  ;  and  the  next  moment  the  wild  hurra  of 
savage  welcome  burst  from  five  hundred  voices,  ringing  merrily 
along  the  steep  sides  of  the  overhanging  mountain,  and  filling 
its  hundred  glades  and  glens  with  the  multiplying  echoes  of 
the  glad  acclamation. 

In  a  short  time,  the  tall  and  noble  figure  of  the  Wampanoog 
chieftain,  now  garbed  in  his  richest  Indian  dress,  and  his 
person  decorated  with  his  most  imposing  regalia,  emerged 
into  view,  and  followed  by  his  four  attendant  warriors,  slowly 
advanced  within  thirty  yards  of  the  long  line  of  admiring 
people,  who  had  been  drawn  up  to  receive  him  ;  when  he  was 
again  greeted  with  another  loud  and  prolonged  shout  by  way 
of  welcoming  his  arrival.  With  a  low  and  graceful  bow,  he 
acknowledged  the  courtesy,  and  then  put  himself  under  the 
lead  of  the  four  Nipmuck  sachems,  who  now  advanced  to 
conduct  him  to  the  lodge  which  had  been  appropriately  fitted 
up  for  his  reception. 

The  summer's  sun  had  again  culminated,  and  was  again 
slowly  sinking  towards  the  western  horizon.  On  the  topmost 
cliff  of  the  towering  Wachusett,  sat  alone  and  in  moody  si 
lence,  the  proud  chief  of  the  Wampanoogs.  He  had,  after 
his  arrival  the  preceding  evening,  partaken  the  bountiful  re 
past  brought  for  him  and  his  warriors,  smoked  the  pipe  of 
peace  with  the  sachems  who  had  called  at  his  lodge,  enjoyed 
his  night's  repose,  and  again  invigorated  himself  with  a  morn 
ing  repast;  but  with  a  policy  which  probably  many  another 
public  speaker  has  adopted,  he  declined  mingling  with  the 
people,  lest  the  effort  he  was  intending  to  make  before  them 
in  public,  should  be  weakened  by  the  familiarity.  And  as 
the  new  council  lodge,  which  had,  the  day  before,  been  begun 


METACOM    IN    SOLITUDE.  155 

in  special  honor  of  the  occasion,  could  not  be  finished  to  the 
satisfaction  of  the  builders  much  before  night,  he  h;id  given 
notice  that  he  would  defer  his  speech  until  evening;  and  he 
had  then  betaken  himself  alone  to  the  woods,  to  pass  the  day 
in  solitary  reflection,  or  perhaps  in  nerving  himself  with  the 
war  spirit,  which  it  was  his  aim  to  infuse  into  the  bosoms  of 
the  people  he  had  come,  to  address  and  enlist  in  his  cause. 
But  whither  should  his  uncertain  steps  now  be  directed  ?  Ac 
cording  to  a  very  natural  superstition  of  the  Indians,  who, 
more  than  any  people  on  earth,  perhaps,  are  prone 

"  To  look  through  nature  up  to  nature's  God," 

the  mountain  tops  are  peculiarly  the  dwellings  of  the  spirits; 
there  are  the  most  auspicious  places  for  gaining  the  ear  of  the 
great  or  ruling  spirit  of  all ;  and,  consequently,  that  whatever 
of  high  resolve  may  be  made  there,  will,  if  not  directly 
prompted  by  him,  at  least  be  more  likely  to  receive  his  sanc 
tion  and  blessing.  He  had  therefore  climbed  the  highest  peak 
of  this  bold  and  majestic  mountain,  and,  hour  after  hour,  had 
been  sitting  on  the  highest  rock  of  its  commanding  summit, 
with  his  grieved  spirit  brooding  over  the  wrongs  of  the  past, 
and  his  teeming  mind  revolving  the  projects  of  the  future. 

But  he  now  r  *se  to  his  feet,  and,  with  his  rifle  and  toma 
hawk  lyiiiir  carelessly  at  his  side,  pensively  ran  his  eye  o\er 
the  magnificent  panorama  which  the  place  everywhere  j  re 
sented  to  his  wandering  vision — on  the  east,  in  the  thousand 
woody  hills,  with  sparkling  lakelets  interspersed,  stretching 
away  in  lessening  perspective,  till  they  melted  into  the  mi>ty 
light  of  the  distant  ocean — on  the  south  and  west,  in  the 
dotted  landscape  of  solitary  hills  and  interwoven  ridges  of 
mountain  elevations,  more  conspicuously  represented  in  the 
gray,  bald  Mount  Holyoke,  arid  the  n  ore  distant  and  lofty 
Saddle  hack,  with  the  bright  Connecticut  occasionally  gleam 
ing  up  through  the  mountain  gorges  between  them,  like  a 


156  THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

silver  thread  in  a  dark  embroidery;  and  finally,  on  the  north, 
in  the  nearer  form  of  the  bold  Monadnock,  standing  like  a 
Solitary  sentinel  of  an  advanced  guard,  to  guide  the  vision  to 
the  shining  pinnacles  of  the  far  off  White  Mountains,  lilting 
their  majestic  heads  from  the  azure  depths  of  the  encircling 
horizon. 

It  was  evidently,  however,  not  on  the  magnificent  scenery 
that  his  thoughts  were  now  intent.  His  wandering  eye,  in 
sweeping  the  horizon,  has  lighted  on  the  habitations  of  the 
white  men  He  everywhere  catches  glimpses  of  their  solitary 
openings  in  the  wilderness,  marking  the  front  lines  of  the  en 
croaching  army.  In  the  rear  of  these,  he  notes  their  smiling 
villages,  with  their  tall  church-spires  shooting  upward,  giv 
ing  certain  indication  of  the  increasing  thrift  and  growing  num 
bers  of  the  invaders  thickly  crowding  on  behind,  to  seize  upon 
the  domains  of  the  retiring  red  men.  He  turns  to  the  south, 
but  only  to  be  greeted  by  the  same  painfully  significant  indica 
tions;  for  relief,  he  turns  to  the  west ;  but  as  his  eye  follows  up 
the  i»road  valley  of  the  Connecticut,  his  vision  is  there  also  met 
with  the  no  less  saddening  prefinurations  of  destiny,  which  he 
sees  in  the  white  settlements,  fast  spreading  themselves  along 
up  the  fertile  banks  of  that  favorite  river  of  his  red  brethren 
in  the  west.  He  again  turns  b.ick  to  the  east,  and  once  more 
mourn  tally  traces  round  the  encircling  line  of  civilization, 
which  now,  to  his  alarmed  imagination,  begins  to  assume  the 
form  of  a  monster  white  serpent,  enclosing  the  whole  wilder 
ness  home  of  his  people  with  its  vast,  terrible  coil,  and  draw 
ing  its  fast  contracting  folds  closer  and  closer  on  the  victims 
of  the  hideous  embrace.  He  sudddenly  pauses  and  recoils. 
His  eye  becomes  troubled,  and  his  cheek  pales;  lor  in  these 
demonstrations  of  the  steady  march  of  the  white  man's  thrift 
ami  power,  he  instinctively  reads  the  doom  of  his  own  people. 
Mark  the  gathering  conflict  of  his  pertuibed  and  wrestling 
spirit,  !  His  mind  quickly  turns  back  on  the  long  line  of  the 


ATPEAL    TO    MANITOU.  157 

countless  generations  of  his  ancestor?,  who  have  successively 
lived  and  passed  away,  the  undisputed  tenants  of  all  these 
broad  primeval  forests. 

"Are  not,"  with  gloom}'  pride  he  exclaims — "are  not  the 
big  trees  standing  on  the  graves  of  my  fathers?  •  Has  not  the 
Great  Spirit  whitened  these  hills  with  a  thousand  returning 
snows,  to  thicken  the  coat  of  the  beaver  to  clothe,  and  bring 
the  moose  to  feed,  my  people?  Who,  then,  are  these  coming 
over  the  great  waters  to  seize,  with  robber  hands,  our  rightful 
possessions,  destroy  our  hunting  grounds  to  make  them  fields 
where,  with  scoff  and  jeer,  they  shall  plough  over  the  sacred 
bones  of  our  dead  warriors,  and  finally  to  drive  us,  like  timid 
deer,  beyond  the  mountains  of  the  setting  sun? 

a  Oh,  Manitou!"  he  cries,  in  the  anguish  of  his  feelings, 
and  with  arms  thrown  wildly  above,  as  if  for  aid  to  shut  out 
the  unwelcome  picture  of  coining  destiny  which  had  thus 
come,  like  a  baleful  shadow,  over  his  maddened  soul—"  Oh, 
Manitou!  is  this,  indeed,  thy  decree?  Is  this  thy  love  and 
justice  to  the  poor  red  man  ?  I  will  not  believe  it !  My  eye 
shall  be  shut  against  the  fearful  vision.  My  ear  shall  be 
stopped  against  the  lying  voice.  It  was  not  tJutu  who  said  it! 
It  was  the  white  man's  God  that  was  mocking  me.  No!  no! 
good  Manitou,  it  is  none  of  thy  work.  Thou  art  the  great 
friend  and  protector  of  the  red  man  !  I  was  wrong  to  doubt, 
thee.  I  see  it  now,"  he  continues,  as  his  faith  begins  to  shape 
itself  to  the  current  of  his  wishes,  and  he  feels  that  kindling 
glow  in  his  bosom  which  the  Indian  ever  interprets  as  the 
promptings  of  a  propitious  spirit,  and  to  which  his  fancy  now 
gave  voice  in  the  viable  omens  of  nature — "I  see  it  now  in 
this  small  bush,  which  thy  wind  has  just  bent  forward  towards 
my  hand,  that  I  might  thus  wrench  it  up  from  the  earth 
before  it  grew  strong  in  the  ground  and  its  branches  spread 
to  cover  the  whole  lanfl.  I  hear  it  in  the  roar  of  the  moun 
tain  waters,  that  comes  in  anger  on  my  ear  because  the  war- 


158  THE    iJOOMKI)    CHIEF. 

riors  are  not  ready  for  the  fight.  I  hear  it  in  the  sharp  screech 
of  yon  soaring  eagle,  the  totem  bird  of  my  tribe,  whose  cry 
sounds  vengeance  to  the  white  enemy  I  hear  it  in  the  winds, 
that  murmur  their  rebuke  fur  our  coldness  and  loitering  in 
the  war-path.  I  see  it  in  the  sun,  that  looks  down  with  a  sad 
and  bitter  smile  upon  the  red  men  every  where  lying  idle  in 
the  wigwam,  when  dangerous  animals  are  gathering  around  to 
destroy  them.  I  hear  it,  I  see  it,  in  every  thing — all  speaking 
thy  voice,  and  showing  thy  will,  that  we  make  war  on  the  pale- 
faced  aggressors  till  the  last  one  is  driven  into  the  sea,  and 
the  red  men  again  become  the  lords  of  the  country."  He 
ceases,  but  his  quivering  muscles  and  flashing  eye  speak  the 
determined  purpose  of  his  heart;  and  grasping  his  rifle  and 
tomahawk,  he  rapidly  makes  his  way  down  the  mountain,  now 
fully  nerved  to  act  his  part  in  the  gathered  council  of  warriors 
awaiting  his  presence  below. 

The  shades  of  evening  were  once  more  fast  gathering  over 
this  mountain  home  of  the  red  men,  and  the  bright  stars  were 
beginning  to  twinkle  down  through  the  branchy  tree- tops  of 
the  deeply  foliaged  forest.  The  new  and  unusually  capacious 
council  lodge — now  finished  and  appropriately  ornamented 
Tpith  all  the  emblematic  devices  of  savage  ingenuity,  among 
which  the  stuffed  eagle,  the  totem  badue  of  the  Wanij  anongs, 
was,  in  compliment  to  that  tribe,  conspicuously  suspended  from 
the  ceiling — the  new  lodge  was  filled  with  the  flower  of  the 
Nipmuck  warriors,  awaiting  in  silence  the  promised  appearance 
of  their  illustrious  visitor.  At  length,  a  commotion  outside 
the  thronged  building  betokened  his  approach;  and  the  war 
riors  quickly  arranged  themselves  on  either  side  of  the  long 
room,  leaving  a  clear  avenue  through  the  centre  to  a  sort  of 
block-work  platform,  raised  ;it  the  further  end  for  a  stand  for 
the  orator  of  the  evening.  Presently  the  distinguished  «ruest, 
now  splendidly  attired  for  the  occasion,  made  his  appearance 
at  the  entrance,  and,  under  the  guidance  of  the  oldest  sachem 


INSULTS    TO    THE    RED    MAN.  159 

of  the  place,  inarched  proudly  up  the  well-smoothed  avenue, 
and  lightly  mounted  the  platform.  For  a  full  minute  he  sur 
veyed  the  hushed  and  expectant  assemblage  in  silence.  He 
then,  in  low  but  clear  and  musical  accents,  entered  on  the  his 
tory  of  the  white  settlements,  since  the  first  feeble  and  sup 
pliant  bands  made  their  appearance  arid  humbly  craved  of  the 
red  possessors  a  small  lodgment  on  these  shores.  He  skillfully 
demonstrated  that  every  village,  hamlet,  or  dwelling  they  had 
erected,  and  every  acre  of  land  they  had  cleared,  had  been  at 
the  expense  of  the  best  interests  of  the  red  men.  He  showed 
that  just  in  proportion  to  their  growth,  in  every  step  of  tht  ir 
progress,  from  their  little  beginning  up  to  their  present  great 
ness,  their  arrogance  had  increased  ;  and  that  their  settled, 
though  at  first  carefully  concealed,  intention  to  dispossess  and 
drive  off  all  the  original  owners  of  the  land,  had  every  where 
been  betrayed  in  deeds  which  stamped  their  fair  professions  as 
things  of  cunning  and  falsehood.  With  these  facts  staring 
them  in  the  face,  then,  he  asked  who  could  be  so  blind  as  not 
to  see  that  the  artful  aggressors  were  only  waiting  for  a  little 
more  increase  of  their  number  and  power,  to  drive  back  every 
tribe  of  the  east  from  their  time-honored  homes  and  the  sacred 
graves  of  their  fathers,  to  lands  already  occupied  by  other 
tribes,  where  they  could  find  no  permanent  homes,  and,  if 
they  were  received  at  all,  it  would  only  be  to  starve  and  die 
for  want  of  game  to  support  the  doubled  population  ?  He  then 
drew  a  vivid  picture  of  the  insults  and  injuries  which,  from 
time  to  time,  had  been  heaped  upon  himself  and  his  tribe  by 
the  Plymouth  colony,  up  to  their  last  great  outra.se,  so  un- 
blushingly  exhibited,  in  seizing  and  hanging  up  with  ropes, 
as  they  would  so  many  of  their  thieving  dogs,  the  best  of 
those  who  bore  the  proud  name  of  Wampanoog. 

From  the  sad  story  of  his  own  wrongs  he  passed  to  those 
of  the  long  suffering  tribe  he  was  addressing  He  reminded 
them  in  moving  terms  how  often  aid  shamefully  they  had 


160  THE   DOOMED    CHIEF. 

been  cheated  and  overreached  in  trnde  ;  how,  under  one 
tetice  or  another,  they  had  been  crowded  from  their  best 
lands,  and  driven  back  to  the  mountains  ;  how  large  numbers 
of  their  tribe  had  been  inveigled,  under  promise  of  protection 
and  friendship,  to  settle  near  the  whites,  and  become  converts 
to  their  religion  ;  and  he  then  related  his  late  discoveries  of 
the  treachery  of  the  Massachusetts  colonists  ;  what  he  had 
seen  of  their  preparations  for  war  ;  how,  in  proof  of  the  fact, 
he  had  seen  them,  as  the  first  step  in  carrying  out  their  hos 
tile  intentions,  seizing  upon  and  making  prisoners  of  these 
very  praying  Indians,  and  he  concluded  this  part  of  his  sub 
ject  by  asking  his  auditors  if  these  praying  Indians,  for  whom 
so  much  frien'lship  had  been  professed,  were  thus  treated,  what 
they  supposed  was  in  store  for  the  rest  of  them  ?" 

The  universal  burst  of  indignant  denunciation  which  from 
all  parts  of  the  swarthy  assemblage,  followed  this  ad  hominrm 
question,  told  the  gratified  speaker  how  well  his  remarks  had 
counted  ;  and  after  the  commotion  had  subsided,  he  proceeded 
next  to  relate  to  the  excited  throng  his  day  dream  on  the 
mountain,  which  his  glowing  eloquence,  building  on  the 
ground  work  of  their  peculiar  superstitions,  readily  impressed 
on  their  willing  minds  as  an  undoubted  revelation  of  the 
Great,  Spirit  to  his  red  children,  in  this  their  hour  of  danger. 
He  pictured  to  them  in  vivid  colors,  his  vision  of  a  huge  white 
serpent  corning  up  from  the  sea,  and  gathering  with  its 
mighty  coil,  stretched  all  round  from  the  north  to  the  west, 
the  devoted  red  men  within  its  fatal  grasp — then  his  agonized 
cry  to  the  Great  Spirit  for  assistance  to  escape  from  the 
threatened  doom,  and  finally,  the  responsive  command  that 
came  to  him  in  the  winds,  that  moaned  reproachfully  ovei-  the 
mountain — in  the  frowning  sky — in  the  angry  sound  of  the 
distant  water  falls,  and  in  the  fierce  scream  of  the  war  eagle 
above  his  head,  all  bidding  him  arouse  from  his  fatal  lethargy, 


APPEAL   TO   THE    NIPMUCKS.  161 

and  go  forth  with  his  warriors  to  destroy  or  drive  the  monster 
from  the  land  before  it  should  be  forever  too  late. 

"  It  was  the  command  of  the  red  man's  God,"  he  added,  in 
tones  that  swelled  up  like  the  ringing  notes  of  the  bugle, 
sounding  the  charge  to  battle.  "  Metacom  bowed  in  submis 
sion  to  the  high  behest.  His  vow  went  up  to  the  Great  Ma- 
nitou  to  execute  the  bidden  vengeance  on  the  mustering  foe? 
of  his  red  children.  Metacom's  heart  is  now  strong.  His 
arm  is  nerved  for  the  great  struggle.  He  will  soon  go  forth 
on  the  war-path  with  his  brave  Wampanoogs.  But  shall  he 
go  alone?  Will  the  other  tribes  stand  idly  by,  and  with 
folded  hands  look  coldly  on  to  see  him  fight  their  battles  and 
his  own,  and  lift  not  a  hatchet  in  the  common  cause  ? — see  him 
struggle,  and  fight,  and  die  for  their  rights,  and  they  them 
selves  shy  away  like  a  flock  of  frightened  squaws  from  the 
conflict  ?  What  say  the  brave  Nipmuck  warriors  to  a  cjiarge 
like  this  ?  Will  they,  too,  be  found  loth  and  laggard  when 
the  great  day  of  vengeance  arrives?  Will  they,  too,  turn 
themselves  into  weak,  trembling  women,  and  hold  their  hands 
to  their  ears  when  the  war  cry  of  their  red  brothers  is  ringing 
around  their  green  hills,  and  calling  them  to  the  rescue  ?" 

"  No  !  no  !  no  !"  rose  in  one  wild,  universal  shout  of  repro 
bation  of  the  degrading  thought  from  every  young  warrior  of 
the  agitated  throng,  which,  by  this  time,  was  swaying  and 
surging  under  the  power  of  these  maddening  appeals,  like  the 
storm  lashed  billows  of  the  ocean.  "No,  no;  the  Nipmuck 
Warriors  shall  be  found  neither  coward  nor  laggard  on  that 
great  day,  but  stand  by  the  side  of  the  Wampanoog  brave, 
and  keep  pace  with  him  in  the  race  of  the  battle." 

The  chief  looked  around  on  the  workings  of  the  tempest  he 

had  raised  with  a  grim  smile  of  satisfaction.      He  saw  that  the 

auspicious  moment  to  avail  lairnself  of  the  fruits  of  his  effort 

had  arrived,  and  that  from   words,  it  was  time  to   proceed  to 

11 


162  THE    DOOMEE    CHIEF. 

that  binding,  emblematic  action  from  whicb  no  true  Indian 
ever  thinks  of  receding. 

He  therefore  descended  from  his  stand,  and  slowly  march 
ing  down  the  open  space  to  the  spot  where  the  four  sachems 
of  the  tribe  were  seated,  paused  a  moment  before  them  with 
reverent  air;  and  then  drawing  his  painted  blood-red  hatchet 
from  his  belt,  cast  it  down  at  their  feet;  when  receding  a 
step,  he  stood  calmly,  but  with  a  look  of  proud  confidence, 
awaiting  in  silence  the  result. 

But  these  elderly  personages,  less  carried  away  by  the  fiery 
eloquence  of  the  speaker  than  the  younger  portion  of  their 
tribe,  and  deeply  sensible  of  the  responsibility  they  should 
incur  by  the  action  to  which  they  had  thus  been  challenged, 
for  the  first  few  moments  sat  mute  and  motionless,  demurely 
looking  down  on  the  ground  beneath  their  feet. 

A  murmur  of  displeasure  ran  through  the  crowd  at  this 
unexpected  manifestation  of  doubting  or  indifference;  and  the 
sachems,  evidently  disturbed  by  the  expression,  began  to  glance 
uneasily  around  them.  But  still  they  moved  not  from  their 
seats  ;  and  for  another  full  minute  sat  doubtful  and  hesitating, 
when  another  and  far  more  significant  burst  of  displeasure 
rose  from  every  part  of  the  room,  and  brought  them  to  their  feet. 

With  a  quick  glance  over  the  crowd,  which  seemed  to  say, 
we  take  this  as  a  vote  of  instruction,  but  on  you  be  the  re 
sponsibility,  they  together  leaped  forward,  grasped  the  red 
emblem  of  war  and  alliance ;  and  each  with  a  hand  on  a  part 
of  it,  held  it  up  to  the  crowd,  who  now  sent  up  a  shout  in 
confirmation  of  the  act,  that  shook  the  startled  wilderness  for 
miles  around  them. 

"  A  war  dance  !  a  war  dance  I"  shouted  the  exulting  chief- 
tain,  himself  leading  off  with  fiercely  chanted  war  song,  while 
the  customary  chorus  rose  wild  and  loud  from  every  mouth 
of  that  dark  assemblage. 

After   Metacom  had  danced  awhile  alone,  first  one,  then 


TRIUMPH    OF    METACOM.  1(53 

another,  and  then  yet  others  fell  into  the  area  kept  )pen  for 
the  performance,  till  the  whole  mass,  with  their  flourished 
knives,  tomahawks,  and  war  clubs,  and  with  yells  and  war- 
whoops  intermingled  in  the  chorus,  were  involved  in  tbf» 
frightful  mazes  of  that  ominous  exhibition  of  the  wilds, 
which  has  so  long  been  known  as  the  certain  precursor  of 
blood  and  desolation  to  the  hearths  and  homes  of  the  white  men. 

Thus  had  the  great  chief  triumphed — thus  succeeded  in 
making  this  numerous  tribe  so  firmly  and  immovably  his  allies 
in  the  coming  war,  that  when,  a  short  time  after,  the  Massa 
chusetts  commissioners  came  to  enlist  them  against  the  Wam- 
panoogs,  or  at  least  to  secure  their  neutrality,  these  over 
confident  messengers  of  peace  were  met  with  surly  silence, 
and,  on  a  subsequent  misjudged  attempt,  with  a  shower  of  bul 
lets  that  laid  eight  of  their  escort  dead  on  the  earth. 

But  this  was  but  a  specimen  triumph  of  this  sagacious  and 
powerful  chieftain, — the  first  in  the  series  of  moral  victories, 
which,  while  passing  from  tribe  to  tribe,  with  a  celerity  and 
boldness  never  before  witnessed,  he  achieved  over  the  minds  of  a 
divided  and  hitherto  often  mutually  hostile  race,  in  bringing 
them  into  league  with  himself  to  be  ready  to  meet  the  anticipa 
ted  crisis.  And  there  can  be  but  little  doubt,  that,  had  he  been 
allowed  six  months  longer  to  consummate  his  plans,  as  he  had  in 
tended  and  hoped,  he  would  have  had  the  pleasure  of  beholding 
nearly  every  tribe,  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  great  lakes,  united  in 
one  great  and  irresistible  confederacy,  as  the  fruit  of  his  gigantic 
plans  and  untiring  exertions  in  maturing  them.  But.  to  his 
unspeakable  grief  and  disappointment,  he  was  suddenly  cut 
short  in  the  full  tide  of  his  successful  career  in  this  important 
part  of  his  great  scheme/  by  the  unexpected  outbreak  of  hos 
tilities  between  the  whites  and  his  impatient  Wampanoogs  on 
the  immediate  borders  of  his  own  domain,  which  called  him  at 
once  to  the  scene  of  action,  and  which,  also,  now  calls  us  there 
to  note  the  events  which  belong  to  another  part  of  our  story. 


164  THE  DOOMED   CHIEF. 


CHAPTER    IX. 

"Ah  !  who  could  deem  that  foot  of  Indian  crew 
Was  near  ? — yet  there,  with  lust  of  murderous  deeds, 
Gleum'd  like  a  basilisk,  from  woods  in  view, 
The  ainbush'd  foeman'a  eye, — his  volley  speeds." 

CAMPBELL'S  GERTRUDE  OF  WYOMING. 

"0  MADIAN  !  Madian  !— What  dark  fate  has  befallen  my 
loved  and  beautiful  Madian  ?" 

It  was  the  voice  of  the  half  distracted  Vane  Willis,  as  he 
turned  in  despair  from  his  fruitless  search  to  discover  the  re 
treat,  or  fate  of  the  persecuted  maiden,  whose  mysterious  dis 
appearance  was  mentioned  at  the  close  of  a  former  chapter. 

We  parted  with  Willis,  it  will  be  recollected,  in  conversation 
with  the  rough-and  ready  Captain  Mosely,  on  the  banks  of 
Charles'  river,  in  the  vicinity  of  Boston,  where  they  both  ap 
peared  to  be  present  to  witness  the  embarkation  of  the  praying 
Indians.  As  he  was  retiring  from  that  scene,  he  was,  for  the 
first  time,  apprised  by  a  friend,  who  had  come  from  Plymouth, 
of  the  disappearance,  or  rather  reported  elopement  of  Miss 
Soufhworth.  As  might  be  expected,  he  was  surprised,  but 
in  no  way  alarmed  at  the  unexpected  news.  For,  though  he 
but  imperfectly  knew  the  circumstances  by  which  she  was 
surrounded,  he  yet  was  well  aware  that  Deacon  Mudgridge 
and  his  hopeful  nephew  were  using  their  united  exertions  to 
force  or  inveigle  her  into  a  matrimonial  alliance  with  the  lat 
ter.  And  he  thought  it  quite  probable  that  to  avoid  their 
persecuting  importunities,  she  had  privately  left  her  home  for 
a  short  residence  in  the  family  of  her  relative  in  Boston,  where, 
he  secretly  congratulated  himself,  he  should  now  have  the 


WILLIS    RETURNS   TO    PLYMOUTH.  165 

pleasure  of  seeing  her,  before  his  return  to  the  other  colony, 
for  which  he  was  then  already  on  the  point  of  starting.  Get- 
*ing  clear  of  his  bantering  friend,  therefore,  as  soon  as  he 
could  decently  do  so,  he  hurried  into  the  city,  and  after  a  little 
excusable  attention  to  his  toilet,  at  once  repaired  to  the  resi 
dence  of  Madian's  kinsfolk,  where  he  confidently  expected  he 
should  find,  and,  he  hoped,  agreeably  surprise  her. 

But  when  he  had  arrived  there,  and  questioned  the  family, 
he  found,  to  his  great  disappointment,  that  she  was  not  there,— 
had  not  been  there,  and  that  nothing  had  been  heard  from  her, 
nor  of  her,  for  several  months,  by  any  of  the  family.  He  felt 
deeply  perplexed  at  the  strange  circumstance.  He  could  not 
comprehend  nor  account  for  it.  And  the  more  he  reflected, 
the  more  did  his  doubts  and  perplexities  become  mingled  with 
apprehensions,  that  something  very  unusual,  to  say  the  le^ast, 
must  have  befallen  her.  He  prudently,  however,  kept  his 
uneasiness  and  misgivings  to  himself,  and  contenting  himself 
with  the  mere  expressions  of  regret  and  surprise  at  not  find 
ing  Miss  Southworth  here  with  her  relatives,  he  soon  withdrew 
from  the  house  and  hurried  back  to  his  lodgings;  when,  ma 
king  the  few  preparations  which  were  only  necessary,  he  an 
nounced  his  departure,  mounted  his  horse,  and  within  one 
hour,  th  -ugh  it  was  then  bed  time,  was  far  on  his  nightly 
journey  to  Plymouth. 

Arriving  the  next  morning  at  the  house  of  an  intimate 
friend,  of  the  name  of  Noel,  who  was  a  member  of  his  pros 
pective  company,  and  who  resided  in  the  town  next  north 
wardly  of  the  one  to  which  he  was  destined,  he  there  stopped 
to  refresh  and  rest  himself  and  his  over-ridden  horse,  till  eve 
ning;  when  he  rode  into  Plymouth,  and  repaired  at  once  to 
the  Southworth  mansion,  where,  he  felt  confident,  he  should 
be  kindly  received  by  the  old  domestics,  and  where  he  believed 
he  could  not  fail  to  learn  something  which  would  enable  him 
at  least  to  form  some  probable  conjecture  on  the  subject 


166  THE   DOOMED    CHIEF. 

which  was  so  deeply  engrossing  his  solicitude.  And  so  far  as 
regarded  his  reception  there,  he  had  reckoned  rightly.  Taffy 
and  his  wife  were  overjoyed  to  see  him  ;  for,  from  the  %v-<nt 
of  any  better  solution  of  the  mystery,  having  fallen  in  with 
the  prevalent  opinion  that  their  young  mistress  had  privately 
left,  after  they  had  retired  at  night,  and  gone  off  with  Willis, 
whom  they  believed  to  be  her  accepted  lover,  they  were  look 
ing  to  him  for  the  very  information  he  was  hoping  to  obtain 
from  them,  respecting  her  otherwise  wholly  unaccountable 
absence.  And  when  he  informed  them  that  he  had  neither 
seen  her,  nor  heard  from  her,  since  he  parted  with  her  at 
that  house,  nearly  a  fortnight  before,  they  heard  him  at  first 
with  incredulity,  and,  at  last,  with  astonishment  and  dismay; 
becoming  in  their  turn,  also,  deeply  concerned  for  her  safety. 
But  they  could  tell  him  nothing  satisfactory  in  regard  to  her 
unexpected  flight,  except  to  express  their  decided  opinion, 
that  it  was  caused  by  the  despicable  course  which  Deacon 
Mudgridge  had  pursued  to  force  her  into  an  abhorred  union  j 
and  which  they  then  proceeded  to  relate  to  the  excited  and 
indignant  lover,  in  all  its  disgusting  and  contemptible  parti 
culars,  including  his  last  high  handed  act  of  causing  a  legal 
notice  of  her  marriage  with  the  thrice  rejected  lover,  to  be 
proclaimed  in  the  church,  the  appointing  of  a  time  for  the 
ceremony,  and  lastly  their  plot  to  dispose  of  the  accepted 
lover  by  banishing  him  for  a  Quaker,  the  first  time  he  should 
make  his  appearance. 

The  last  intimation  concerning  the  designs  of  the  conspira 
tors  on  himself,  Willis  treated  with  open  derision  and  defi 
ance;  but  on  all  the  rest,  he  felt  too  deeply  exasperated  arid 
alarmed  to  make  it  prudent  for  him  to  attempt  to  give  any 
expression  to  the  emotions  of  his  laboring  bosom.  And  hav 
ing  gained  all  the  information  he  could  expect  from  the 
warmly  sympathizing  Taffy  and  his  wife,  he  cautioned  them 
against  disclosing  to  any  one  the  fact  of  his  visit  here,  and 


WILLIS'S  SURMISES.  167 

assured  them  that  he  would  know  no  rest  until  he  had  found 
their  mistress,  or  ascertained  her  fate,  he  took  his  leave  of  the 
anxious  old  couple,  and,  mounting  his  horse,  rode  slowly  and 
thoughtfully  back  to  the  residence  of  his  friend,  which  he 
now  concluded  to  make  his  headquarters  for  the  further 
investigation,  which  he  was  now  sternly  determined  to  pur 
sue. 

After  anxiously  pondering  the  whole  subject,  and  carefully 
\\eighing  all  the  circumstances  which  he  thought  could  have 
any  connection  with  Madiun's  disappearance,  he  at  length 
reiched  the  conclusion,  that  one  of  three  things  only,  could 
Iwe  befallen  her  : — Either  Deacon  Mudgridge  or  some  of  his 
mi  lions  had  abducted  her,  and  conveyed  her  to  some  place 
where  they  could  control  her,  or  she.  driven  to  desperation 
by  her  persecutions,  had  committed  suicide;  or  finally,  that,  in 
ittempting  to  make  her  way  to  the  house  of  some  friend  out 
}f  town,  she  had  been  seized  by  the  Indians  and  carried  away 
to  some  of  their  distant  villages  to  be  kept  for  ransom,  or  an 
hostage,  in  anticipation  of  approaching  hostilities. 

From  what  Willis  already  knew  of  the  despicable  schemings 
of  Deacon  Mudgridge,  he  felt  strongly  inclined  to  look  upon 
the  first  of  these  suppositions  as  the  true  one  ;  and  he  resolved 
to  contrive  some  means  for  forming  a  definite  opinion  on  this 
part  of  the  subject.  But  he  readily  saw,  that  he,  himself, 
under  the  circumstances,  would  not  be  the  right  man  to  suc 
ceed  in  drawing  anything  reliable  from  the  Deacon,  or  any  of 
his  servile  clique,  and  he  therefore  determined  to  depute  an 
other  to  perform  this  service.  Accordingly,  the  next  morn 
ing,  he  laid  the  whole  case  before  his  friend  Noel,  who  was  a 
shrewd,  trusty  man,  and  who,  deeply  sympathizing  in  his  anx 
ieties,  readily  undertook  the  task,  and  went  off  immediately 
to  Plymouth  with  that  object,  leaving  Willis  to  take  a  tour  of 
inspection  round  all  the  ptnds  in  that  town  or  vicinity  which 


168  THE   DOOMED    CHIEF. 

would  be  likely  to  be  resorted  to  for  the  purpc^e  of  suicide  by 
drowning. 

At  night  they  both  returned,  and  sat  down  to  make  their 
mutual  reports,  and  compare  notes  made  in  the  different  fields 
of  observation. 

"  Well,  Noel,"  said  the  impatient  Willis,  as  soon  as  the/ 
were  alo«e,  "  my  day's  work  has  resulted  in  no  discoveries; 
must  your  report  be  as  empty  ?" 

"  Not  quite.  Though  I  have  discovered  no  clue  to  the  girFs 
whereabouts,  I  have  yet  been  able  to  satisfy  myself,  at  least, 
on  the  point  you  wished  me  to  investigate." 

"  What — in  relation  to  the  agency  of  the  Mudgridge  com 
bination  in  her  disappearance?" 

"Yes — any  immediate  agency;  for  I  am  fully  satisfiei 
that  none  of  them  know  any  more  what  has  become  of  hei 
than  yourself." 

'  How  have  you  ascertained  this,  Noel?" 

"  In  a  dozen  ways.  Not  from  the  saintly  Deacon  himself,  i; 
is  true  — for  he  keeps  himself  pretty  close  these  days,  they 
say — but  from  his  understrappers,  and  the  news-mongers  of 
the  town,  with  some  of  whom  1  was  well  acquainted,  and  with 
all  of  whom  I  contrived,  on  one  pretence  or  another,  to  have 
during  the  day  a  conversation  on  the  matter  in  question." 

"Anil  the  result  of  all  was—?" 

"The  result  of  all  was,  that  the  Deacon  and  his  nepliew; 
and  all  they  can  influence,  are  death  on  you,  Vane  Willis; 
and  you  had  better  look  out,  for  you  are  a  muiked  man 
there." 

"  A  marked  man  !  -  For  what  reason  ?" 

11  For  snatching  the  game  from  their  hands ;  for  there  is  no 
kind  of  doubt  but  they  really  believe  you  have  eloped  with 
her  and  gone  to  parts  unknown." 

"Ah!  that  is  my  crime,  then?     I  had  suspected  as  much. 


STRANGE   RUMORS.  169 

And  if  the  Deacon  really  believes  this,  as  you  say,  I  suppose 
*3e  lays  the  defeat  of  his  darling  scheme  much  to  heart." 

<l  He  l;iys  something  to  heart,  evidently.  They  tell  strange 
fltories  about  the  Deacon,  Willis." 

"  Indeed  !     Why,  what  are  they?" 

"  Nothing  very  definite,  to  be  sure,  but  something,  after  all, 
which  affords  room  for  speculation.  They  all  seem  to  under 
stand  that  something  unusual  has  come  over  the  man  ]  and 
among  some,  there  are  mysterious  whispers  afloat,  to  the  effect 
that,  he  has  recently  been  haunted  by  a  ghost  or  an  evil  spirit, 
and  that  he  keeps  the  Shadow  to  watch  and  pray  with  him 
every  night." 

''That,  friend  Noel,  if  true,  is  a  strange  story — strange,  at 
all  events — perhaps  a  significant  one." 

"  I  thought  so,  Willis;  and,  coupling  the  affair  with  some 
things  you  told  me  last  night,  I  studied  upon  it  all  the  way 
home,  but  came  to  no  conclusion.  W7hat  inference  do  you 
draw  from  the  circumstance?" 

"  I  don't  know,"  responded  the  other,  thoughtfully;  "I  am 
not  prepared  to  say  much  on  that  point  at  present.  But, 
taking  all  your  accounts  together,  they  have  removed  the  most 
maddening,  though  not  the  most  melancholy,  of  my  apprehen 
sions — that  was,  that  the  Deacon  and  Sniffkin  had  somehow 
spirited  Miss  Southworth  away  to  some  place  where  they  sup 
posed  they  could  control  and  eventually  subdue  her  to  their 
purposes.  Arid  yet  it  will  throw  me  on  to  another  conclusion, 
which  any  but  a  lover  would  probably  pronounce  more  alarm 
ing." 

"  What  is  that — the  supposition  of  her  suicide  ?" 

"  No,  I  was  not  thinking  of  that.  My  researches  have 
t  vday  been  conducted  with  particular  reference  to  that  ques 
tion.  I  have  skirted  every  body  of  water  within  five  miles 
of  Plymouth,  and  all  other  places  where  such  a  deed  would  be 
likely  to  be  consummated.  But  I  have  made  no  discoveries; 


170  THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

and  besides,  on  recalling  the  firmness,  resolution,  and  other 
noble  traits  of  Madian's  character,  I  cannot  really  bring  my 
mind  to  the  revolting  conclusion  that  she  could  be  driven  to 
that  desperate  alternative.  I  am  therefore  forced  to  adopt 
the  only  other  conclusion  that  I  have  been  able  to  form 
respecting  this  mystery  of  mysteries." 

"  And  that  is  what  I  should'think  the  scarcely  more  probable 
one  of  her  abduction  by  the  Indians — is  it  not  ?" 

"  Yes,  Philip's  tribe,  since  the  mad  and  unwarranted  ex 
ecution  of  their  brethren  at  Plymouth,  probably  consider 
themselves  in-  a  state  of  war  with  the  colonists.  And  this  act 
may  have  been  purposely  intended  to  provoke  the  whites,  as 
I  suspect  is  their  plan,  to  take  the  first  step  in  open  hostil 
ities." 

"  It  may  have  been  so,  possibly.  But  where  could  they 
have  taken  her  ?  Not  from  her  own  house,  certainly  ?" 

"  No  !  She  must  have  thought  to  have  gone  to  the  house 
of  some  friend,  several  miles  off,  perhaps — and  on  foot,  so 
that  she  could  not  be  traced." 

"  But  is  it  likely  she  would  have  gone  on  foot  ?  She  could 
have  ordered  her  man  to  attend  her  on  horseback,  and  have 
trusted  him  with  her  secret,  could  she  not  ?" 

"  Why,  yes,  I  should  suppose  so;  and  I  am  free  to  admit 
that  this,  my  last  conclusion,  is  not  without  its  improbabilities  ; 
but  I  can  reach  no  other." 

"  How  do  you  know  but  what  she  did  reach  some  friend's 
house,  and  is  still  privately  remaining  there  T' 

"  Because,  by  this  time,  she  would  have  found  means  to 
communicate  with  me,  or  her  trusty  domestics  at  home; 
though  at  first,  till  the  Deacon  and  his  emissaries  had  given 
over  the  search,  she  might  think  it  best  to  leave  them  in 
ignorance,  so  that  neither  their  words  nor  manner,  when  ques 
tioned,  could  betray  any  knowledge  on  the  subject.  She  was 
acquainted  with  but  three  or  four  families  out  of  town — all 


FINAL   RESOLUTION   OF  WILLIS.  171 

living  within  a  circuit  of  ten  miles  ;  and  Taffy  has  already 
been  to  every  one  of  them." 

"  Well,  Willis,  though  I  still  cannot  help  doubting  whether 
you  have  even  now  hit  upon  the  true  version  of  the  affair,  yet, 
as  I  can't  at  present  offer  any  better  one,  I  will  say  no  more, 
except  to  ask  what  movement  you  next  propose  to  make  by 
way  of  following  up  the  investigation  ?" 

"  It  is  this — to  repair  to-morrow  morning;  to  Indian  Pond, 
where  there  are  still  encamped  the  small  band  of  friendly 
Saconets,  whom,  as  I  before  told  you,  I  design  to  attach  to 
my  proposed  company,  to  he  employed  as  runners  and  scouts, 
in  case  we  are  called  into  service.  These  I  will  put  in  pairs 
or  singly,  including  myself  in  the  arrangement,  on  all  the 
roads  and  by  paths  running  out  of  Plymouth,  to  search  every 
piece  of  woods  by  the  way  side,  several  miles  in  each  direction 
outward,  for  trails  or  other  indications,  where  ever  an  Indian 
would  think  of  making  a  capture,  or  leading  a  victim  out  into 
the  forest;  when,  if  any  such  capture  has  been  made,  we  can 
hardly  fail,  I  think,  to  discover  the  trail  of  the  captors." 

"  And  supposing  you  do  discover  what  you  judge  to  be 
such  a  trail,  Willis,  what  will  you  do  then  ?" 

"  Make  instant  preparations  to  follow  it  up.  And  follow 
it  I  will  too,  Noel,  to  the  furthest  depths  of  the  wilderness, 
before  I  stop  short  of  the  rescue." 

To  those  who  can  appreciate  the  intense  anxieties  which  a 
gallant  and  resolute  young  lover  would  naturally  feel  under 
the  circumstances,  it  will  not  be  necessary  to  tell  how  faith 
fully  and  untiringly  WTillis,  with  the  efficient  aid  of  his 
keenly  observing  red  associates,  carried  out  the  next  day,  the 
plan  of  operations  which  he  had  so  sanguinely  marked  out  for 
himself.  But  it  was  all  in  vain.  A  little  before  sunset, 
having  himself  made  no  discoveries,  he  reluctantly  relinquished 
the  search,  which,  on  his  part,  had  been  wholly  fruitless,  and 
repaired  to  the  place  he  had  appointed  to  meet  his  Indian 


172  THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

scouts  at  sunset,  and  hear  the  reports  of  the  observations 
which  they  severally  mi^ht  have  made  through  the  day.  The 
spot  thus  designated  was  the  summit  of  a  high  hill,  situated 
two  or  three  miles  westerly  of  Plymouth,  and  so  elevated  as 
to  command  an  extensive  view  of  the  surrounding  country, 
including  that  village  and  all  the  roads  running  into  and  out 
of  it,  especially  the  great  through  fa  re  from  the  southwest 
which  ran  but  a  short  distance  from  the  southern  base  of  the 
elevation. 

Punctual  to  their  appointment,  the  Indian  scouts,  from 
some  of  whom,  at  least,  Willis  still  hoped  to  hear  favorable 
tidings,  all  arrived  at  their  elevated  rendezvous  before  sun 
set;  when  one  after  another  they  related  to  their  anxious  em 
ployer  th<nr  doings,  minutely  describing  the  routes  they  had 
taken,  and  the  manner  arid  amount  of  their  observations  made 
on  each  through  the  day. 

Bv  way  of  enhancing  the  value  of  their  services,  some  of 
them,  indeed,  asserted  that  they  had  discovered  trails  in  cer 
tain  localities,  such  as  might  have  been  made  by  Indians  car 
rying  off  a  captive.  But  all  their  representations  of  this  cha 
racter,  when  sifted  by  cross  examinations,  turned  out  to  be 
merely  some  very  inconclusive  circumstances,  amounting  in 
fact,  to  little  or  nothing  towards  indicating  an  abduction  of 
the  missing  maiden  or  affording  any  clue  to  her  fate. 

Disappointed,  sad,  and  now  this  last  hope  of  being  put  on 
the  track  of  Madian  having  thus  vanished,  more  than  ever 
perplexed  to  account  for  her  disappearance,  Willis  turned 
away  from  the  spot,  despondingly  murmuring  the  words  with 
which  the  present  chapter  was  commenced — 0,  Madian,  Ma 
dian,  Madian  !  What  dark  fate  has  befallen  my  loved  and 
beautiful  Madian  ?"  And  he  began  slowly  and  musingly  to 
desoend  the  hill  on  his  way  back  to  the  place  from  which  he 
had  so  hopefully  started  out  that  morning. 

Before  he  had  proceeded  many  steps,  however,  his  eye  ao» 


HERALDS    OF    EVIL    TIDINGS.  173 

cidentally  fell  on  the  distant  harbor  and  its  indented  shores, 
stretching  far  away  on  either  side  of  the  village  ',  and  he  soon 
paused  and  stood  hesitating.  A  new  thought  had  suddenly 
occurred  to  him.  IVladian,  he  now  felt  satisfied,  could  not 
have  been  taken  away  on  the  land  side  of  the 'village  ;  but 
might  she  not  have  been  seized  on  sou.-e  part  of  her  own 
lands,  and  taken  to  a  boat  concealed  by  her  Indian  captors  for 
the  purpose,  in  some  of  the  coves  along  the  shore,  and  rowed 
off  by  them,  under  cover  of  the  darkness,  to  some  point  of  land 
several  miles  to  the  south,  from  which  she  could  be  led  across 
the  country,  then  mostly  a  wilderness,  to  some  of  King 
Philip's  villages?  Yes.  Why  not?  It  was  in  effect  the 
same  hypothesis  for  the  solution  of  the  mystery  in  question, 
which  he  had  the  night  before  settled  down  upon,  as  the  only 
one  then  left  having  even  the  sanction  of  probability,  varied  only 
by  the  manner  in  which  the  abduction  had  been  effected.  It 
must  be  so;  and  the  thought  instantly  revived  the  dying 
hopes  of  his  bosom,  and  aroused  his  mind  to  its  wonted 
activity. 

Half  formed  schemes  for  a  rescue  were  in  a  moment  float 
ing  over  his  busy  brain  ;  and  he  was  retracing  his  steps  to 
consult  his  Indian  friends  on  their  willingness  to  join  in  an 
excursion  into  Philip's  territory,  when  his  eve  caught  sight 
of  an  object  which  instantly  riveted  attention.  It  was  a 
long  cloud  of  smoke  or  dust  arising  in  the  distance  alomjr  the 
great  road  from  the  west.  An  exclamation  of  surprise  at 
once  brought  the  Indians  to  his  side,  when  they  all  hastened 
to  the  western  brow  of  the  hill,  and  fell  to  scanning  the  unu- 
Bual  spectacle,  which  they  soon  ascertained  to  be  a  thick  cloud 
of  dust  raised  by  horsemen  making  their  way  with  all  possi 
ble  speed  along  the  road  to  Plymouth. 

Instantly  comprehending  that  the  men  must  be  the  heralds 
of  important  tidings,  which  they  appeared  to  be  proclaiming 
at  every  house  they  passed,  Willis,  followed  by  his  attend- 


174  THE    DOOMED    CHIEF. 

ants,  hurried  down  the  hill  towards  the  road  to  get  near 
enough  to  hail  them  as  they  came  by.  This  they  had  scarcely 
effected,  before  the  heralds,  covered  with  dust,  and  lashing 
their  foaming  horses  swept  along  the  road,  loudly  exclaim 
ing  : — 

"  To  arms  !  to  arms  I  The  Indians  have  risen  !  Twenty 
men  have  been  shot  down  in  Swansey,  and  Rehoboth  is  in 
flames  !" 

The  impending  storm  had  indeed  burst  on  the  unprepared 
colony  in  all  the  peculiar  horrors  of  savage  warfare.  That 
day  had  been  the  one  on  which  the  general  fast,  named  in  a 
former  chapter,  had  been  appointed  at  the  village  of  Swansey, 
near  .the  head  of  Narraganset  bay. 

As  the  people  were  coining  out 'of  the  meeting  house,  they 
were  met  by  a  volley  from  concealed  foes  that  brought  many 
to  the  ground,  while  others  scattered  and  ran  to  their  homes 
only  to  share  the  same  fate.  And  those  who  fled  out  of  the 
place  for  safety  were  soon  met  by  fugitives  from  other  towns, 
which  had  also  been  doomed  to  the  same  terrible  visitation. 
And  the  news,  flying  like  the  wind,  had,  almost  with  the 
hour,  thrown  all  the  southern  part  of  the  colony  into  a  state 
of  the  wildest  commotion  and  alarm.  Runners  were  in 
stantly  dispatched  in  every  direction  to  spread  the  note  of 
warning  and  alarm,  and  the  fleetest  horses  put  in  requisition 
to  speed  to  the  court  of  Plymouth  for  military  assistance. 

"  It  has  come  then  at  last,"  said  Willis,  after  standing  a 
moment  mute  and  half  paralized,  under  the  first  effect  of  the 
startling  announcement  which  had  just  been  made — "  sooner 
indeed  than  I  really  expected,  but  not  sooner  than  I  feared  ; 
and  the  blow  as  I  predicted,  has  fallen  suddenly  and  without 
warning.  Heaven  only  knows  what  tidings  will  next  reach 
us  from  the  scenes  of  these  horrors.  Well,  every  man,  who  -is 
a  man,  will  have  but  o.ne  path  to  pursue  in  a  crisis  like  this 
We  shall  soon  see  who  will  take  it.  For  myself  I  shall  quickly 


WILLIS    ENLISTS    INDIAN    SCOUTS.  175 

be  ready  to  do  ray  part  towards  breasting  the  storm.      And 
love  as  well  as  duty  shall  now  be  my  incentive  to  action." 

So  saying,  he  turned  to  his  Indian  followers,  who  had,  as 
readily  as  himself,  comprehended  all  that  had  occurred,  and 
in  a  brief  and  pointed  address  told  them  all  his  arrangements 
for  forming  a  company  of  rangers  for  the  war*  and  then  he 
made  known  his  wish  to  enlist  them  all,  and  as  many  more  as 
were  inclined  to  join  him,  to  serve  for  scouts,  runners,  or 
fighting  men,  as  circumstances  might  require,  and  to  bo  re 
warded  according  to  their  faithfulness  and  the  value  of  their 
services.  As  he  expected,  they  all  promptly  responded  to 
his  appeal,  and  declared  themselves  ready  to  enter  upon  any 
duty  he  might  see  fit  to  assign  them.  Taking  them  at  their 
word  he  dispatched  them  immediately  to  all  the  different  in 
dividuals,  far  and  near,  about  the  colony,  who  had  given  him 
encouragement  of  joining  his  company,  to  request  them  to 
meet  him  with  the  least  possible  delay,  at  Noel's  farm  house, 
which  he  had  appointed  as  their  rendezvous.  Arid  so  little 
preparation  did  these  simple  and  hardy  men  of  the  forest  re 
quire,  that  within  half  an  hour,  every  one  of  them  had  dis 
appeared  on  their  respective  missions,  leaving  their  new  leader 
to  make  his  rapid  way  back  to  his  quarters,  at  the  hospitable 
abode  of  his  friend  and  coadjutor  in  the  enterprise  on  hand. 


176  THE  DOOMED  CHIEF. 


CHAPTER    X. 

Men  of  the  north  !  look  up  ! 

There's  tumult  in  your  sky, 
A  troubled  glory  surging  out, 

Great  shadows  hurrying  by. 

Your  strength — where  is  it  now  ? 

Your  quivers— are  they  spent? 
Your  arrows  in  the  rust  of  death, 

Your  fathers'  bows  unbent. 

Men  of  the  north,  awake  ! 

Ye're  c;ill'd  to  from  the  deep; 
Trumpets  in  every  breeze — 

Yet  there  ye  lie  asleep. 

JOHN  NEAL.        •» 

THE  alarm  of  the  sudden  outbreak  of  the  savage  foe,  de 
scribed  in  the  last  chapter,  had  spread  over  the  country  with 
such  amazing  rapidity,  that  within  twelve  hours  from  the 
time  the  first  hostile  volley  was  poured  upon  the  unsuspect 
ing  victims  at  Swansey,  every  family  of  the  colonies,  both  of 
Plymouth  and  Massachusetts,  to  the  remotest  losr  house  of 
their  frontiers,  was  in  possession  of  the  fearful  tidings,  with 
the  thousand  exaggerations  incident  to  such  occasions.  Al 
though  the  most  far  seeinir  men  of  the  country,  and  especially 
those  best  acquainted  with  the  Indian  character,  had  repeat 
edly  warned  the  public  of  wh;it  would  be  the  inevitable  con 
sequence  of  the  policy  of  government  towards  the  natives, 
particularly  that  of  the  court  of  Plymouth;  yet  for  all  that, 
the  news;  when  it  at  last  came,  as  predicted,  fell  like  a  thun- 


WILLIS'S  COMPANY.  177 

der  clap  upon  the  people,  filling  them  everywhere  with  the 
deepest  consternation  and  dismay. 

In  this  emergency,  Massachusetts,  notwithstanding  she  had 
severely  censured  the  court  of  Plymouth  tor  a  policy  towards 
the  Indians,  believed  to  be  calculated  to  involve  the  country 
in  an  unnecessary  war,  and  more  than  once  interposed  her 
peaceful  offices,  yet  now,  when  war  was  come,  acted  with 
promptitude  and  despatch.  The  governor  and  council  met  in 
the  night  immediately  after  the  news  of  the  outbreak  reached 
them  ;  and  after  a  short  and  exciting  debate  on  the  question, 
whether  they  should  send  their  commissioner  for  a  further 
attempt  to  pacify  King  Philip,  or  troops  to  fight  him,  at 
length  concluded  to  do  both,  and  send  them  all  along  toge 
ther,  to  act  as  the  circumstances  mi^ht  require.  Accordingly, 
Captains  Henchman,  Mosely,  and  Prentiss,  were  sent  for; 
when  Henchman  was  ordered  to  rally  out  his  company  of  re 
gular  infantry,  and  be  ready  to  march  early  in  the  morning, 
Mosely  to  follow  with  his  volunteers  as  soon  as  he  could  col 
lect  them,  and  Prentiss,  with  his  cavalry,  to  start  soon  en«'Uiih 
in  the  day  to  overtake  the  rest  by  the  time  they  should  halt 
for  their  first  night's  encampment.  Arid  with  such  prompt 
ness  and  energy  were  these  orders  executed,  that  before  noon 
the  next  day,  the  last  of  the  designated  forces  were  on  their 
march  to  the  scene  of  action. 

Equally  expeditious  and  fortunate,  in  the  meanwhile,  had 
been  our  young  hero,  the  determined  Vane  Willis,  in  collect 
ing  and  organizing  his  promptly  responding  associates,  pre 
paratory  to  an  immediate  m;irch  for  the  defence  of  the  im 
periled  inhabitants  of  the  southern  frontiers. 

On  the  second  morning  after  the  alarm,  there  stood  paraded 
in  the  green  lane  in  front  of  the  house  of  their  rendezvous, 
thirty  athletic,  resolute,  young  woodsmen  ;  while  a  little  dis 
tance  aloof,  were  seen  lounging,  in  irregular  groups,  about 

twenty  Indians,  who  had  by  this  time  also  come  in  to  attach 
12 


178  THE   DOOMED   CIIIE7. 

themselves  to  the  company.  Of  this  promising  hand,  Willis 
had,  the  night  before,  as  all  both  wished  and  expected,  been 
"ananimoftsly  chosen  captain,  and  Noel,  the  second  in  com 
mand  ;  while  all  the  subordinate  offices  had  been  filled  with 
almost  equal  unanimity.  The  usual  drill  and  the  few  simple 
military  evolutions  through  which  the  company  had  just 
been  taken,  had  ceased  ;  and  their  leader  now  stood  proudly 
glancing  along  their  ranks,  with  the  gleaming  talismanic 
blade,  which  Madian  had  bestowed,  and  which  had  now  be 
come  invested  with  a  double  interest  in  his  mind,  for  the  first 
time  openly  displayed  at  his  side. 

"  Captain  Willis,"  said  Noel,  coming  forward  from  the  other 
end  of  the  line,  and  taking  his  superior  a  little  aside.  "Cap 
tain  Willis,  do  you  still  persist  in  your  resolution  of  marching 
into  Plymouth,  this  morning,  instead  of  proceeding  directly  on 
towards  the  scene  of  action  ?" 

"  Yes, — though  I  neither  expect,  nor,  indeed,  at  all  covet 
a  commission  from  the  court,  considering  who  rules  the  roast 
there,  yet  I  think  it  but  right  and  proper  to  report  myself 
and  company  to  the  governor,  that  he  may  know  what  forces 
are  in  the  field/' 

"  Under  ordinary  circumstances  I  would  certainly  do  so  ; 
but  you  know  the  combination  they  have  there  got  up  against 
you  ;  and  I  really  fear  they  will  try  to  detain  you  on  their  ab 
surd  charges,  or  otherwise  delay  or  embarrass  you." 

"  Then  there  will  be  fighting  much  nearer  than  Swansey  or 
Rehoboth  ;  for  I  will  neither  be  detained  nor  delayed  a  single 
hour.  Yes,  Noel,  I  shall  go  there." 

"  Very  well;  if  you  are  determined  on  the  experiment,  you 
shall  not  want  for  one  backer,  at  least ;  and  I  think  every 
member  of  the  company,  indeed,  may  be  counted  on  with 
equal  certainty.  But  hark  !" 

The  conversation  was  here  interrupted  by  the  distant  roll 
of  drums,  whose  "  stormy  music  "  came  fitfully  swelling  on 


MOSELY    AND    HIS    VOLUNTEERS.  179 

the  morning  breeze  from  some  unseen  point  along  the  road 
coming  in  from  the  north.  And  presently  a  stout  lot  king 
horseman  made  his  appearance,  leisurely  approaching  alone  in 
the  same  direction. 

"  Can  it  be,"  said  Willis,  after  listening  a  moment  to  this 
indication  of  the  approach  of  some  military  array,  and  scan 
ning  with  interest  the  advancing  horseman — u  Can  it  be, 
that  the  Bay  colony  have  rallied,  and  pushed  on  their  forces 
so  expeditiously  as  this  comes  to?  It  looks  like  it;  and  if  so, 
I  will  venture  to  say  that  we  shall  find  Captain  Mostly  and 
his  volunteers  leading  the  way.  Yes,  yes,  and  yonder  horse- 
m;m,  I  suspect,  though  mounted  for  some  temporary  purpose, 
can  be  no  other  than  the  go-ahead  captain,  himself." 

Willis  was  correct  in  his  conjecture.  In  a  few  minutes  the 
captain  rode  up,  heartily  greeted  the  other,  and  was  intro 
duced  to  Noel ;  when  he  warmly  complimented  them  both,  on 
the  fine,  and,  as  he  termed  it,  business  like  appearance  of 
their  company. 

"  Is  that  the  way  you  are  going  into  the  fight  with  the  In 
dians,  Captain  Mosely  ?"  said  Willis  jocosely,  as  he  glanced 
at  the  rather  sorry  looking  horse  on  which  the  other  wap 
mounted. 

"  Yes,  if  every  day's  march  must  make  me  as  foot-sore  as 
the  tough  one  we  had  of  it,  last  night." 

"  Why,  did  you  march  all  night?" 

11  To  be  sure  we  did.  We  never  left  Boston  till  nearly  noon  ; 
and  being  determined  to  overhaul  Captain  Henchman,  who 
marched  with  his  regulars  in  the  morning,  we  pulled  on 
through  the  night,  and  did  not  overtake  them  till  day-break." 

"  Where  is  Henchman  and  his  company,  now?" 

"  Where  they  encamped,  near  one  of  that  cluster  of  ponds 
in  the  hilly  country,  four  or  five  miles  astern." 

"  But  we  have  just  heard  drums,  not  half  that  distance  from 
us.  Whose  company  did  they  belong  to?" 


180  THE    DOOMED    CHIEF. 

"Mine — my  company  of  spunky  volunteers,  who,  by  their 
famous  fatigue  march,  are  covering  themselves  with  dust  and 
glory." 

"I  don't  understand  it.  If  Henchman's  force  has  h;id  the 
rest  and  refreshment  of  a  night's  bivouac,  and  your  company 
none,  how  came  your  company  so  much  in  advance?" 

11  Well,  Willis,  I  am  ashamed  to  tell  you;  and  for  the  credit 
of  the  Bay  troops,  I  hope  you  will  not  believe  a  word  of  the 
story." 

"  Ashamed,  Captain  Mosely  ?    Why,  what  has  happened  ?" 

"  What  has  happened  ?  Why,  there  was  an  eclipse  of  the 
moon  last  night,  or  rather  this  morning." 

"  1  understood  there  was  to  be  one.  But  what  had  that  to 
do  with  your  story?" 

"A  good  deal.  That  same  moon,  in  her  mumps  this  morn- 
ins:,  came  near  playing  the  very  mischief  with  Hichnuin's 
whole  company.  When  I  reached  them,  I  found  their  camp 
in  a  complete  panic,  and  seriously  meditating  a  retreat  home 
wards.  The  cussed  fools,  it  seems,  had  been  looking  at  the 
eclipse,  and  their  frightened  fancies  h;id  converted  the  odd 
appearance  of  the  moon  at  the  time  into  all  sorts  of  bloody 
omens — some  seeing  in  it  nothing  but  sculps;  some,  Indian 
bows;  some,  clouds  of  smoke  hanging  over  burning  villages, 
and  some — the  devil  knows  what;  and  the  result  was,  that 
the  very  men  who  would  probably  be  brave  enough  in  any 
real  d;mger,  were  scared  half  to  death  by  the  bugbears  of 
their  own  raising." 

"  But  their  captain — what  was  their  captain  about,  in  the 
meantime,  to  suffer  such  foolish  fancies  to  possess  them  ?" 

"  Why,  he  was  as  mum  as  a  fish;  and  I'll  be  hanged,  sir,  if 
I  did  not  think  he  looked  almost  as  glummy  and  down  in  the 
mouth  ns  the  rest !" 

"  And  what  did  you  say  to  them,  Captain  Mosely?" 

"  Well,  I  scarcely  knrw  myself,  for  I  never  was  so  mad  and 


SUPERSTITIOUS    FEARS.  181 

mortified  with  the  conduct  of  any  set  of  fellows  in  my  life. 
Before  I  worked  iny.self  up  to  the  swearing  point,  however,  I 
tried  to  reason  with  them,  telling  them  that  such  eclipses  had 
happened  a  thousand  times — that  there  was  now  nothing 
unusual  nor  unnatural  in  the  appearance  of  the  moon,  for  such 
an  event.  Then  I  laughed  at  them,  and  told  them  I  thought 
they  were  slandering  the  poor,  innocent  moon  in  her  troubles, 
for  even  if  there  were  any  omens  in  the  case,  she  would  not 
be  such  a  partial,  scurvy  jade  as  to  give  out  signs  all  on  one 
side — that  the  Indians  must  take  half  of  them  to  themselves, 
at  all  events,  which  would  leave  the  matter  no  worse  than 
before.  Then  [  tried  to  shame  them  for  being  frightened  by 
scare-crows,  like  a  parcel  of  children  before  their  clouts  were 
off.  And  finally,  proceeding  next  to  serious  talk  with  them, 
I  waxed  rather  warm,  probably,  for  a  church  member  in  regu 
lar  standing,  as  I  am ;  and  if  I  swore  outright,  I  don't  believe 
Gabriel  has  put  it  down  on  the  debtor  side  of  my  account,  for 
I  could  nor  keep  the  old  man  down,  and  so  at  last  cussed  them 
up  hill  and  down  for  a  pack  of  ninnies  and  cowards." 

"  How  did  they  bear  all  that?"  asked  the  surprised  and 
greatly  amused  young  officers. 

"  Well,  a  good  deal  better  than  I  expected.  The  fact  -was, 
they  began  by  this  time  to  see  that  the  supposed  sure  omens 
were,  after  all,  mere  matters  of  guesswork;  and  the  more  that 
idea  prevailed  among  them,  the  more  they  got  ashamed  of 
themselves.  And  so,  the  mischief-making  eclipse  going  off, 
to  help  the  matter,  about  the  same  time,  they  soon  became 
more  cheerly,  and  set  about  cooking  their  breakfast,  which 
they  invited  us  to  partake;  and  by  the  time  all  was  over,  and 
my  company  prepared  to  move,  I  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing 
them  in  something  like  a  soldier-like  condition  again,  and 
packing  up  to  fellow  us.  They  will  now  soon  be  on  the 
march,  I  think,  especially  as  they  would  wish  to  be  off  before 
Captain  Prentiss,  who  stopped  with  his  troop  at  a  house  but  a 


182  THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

few  miles  in  the  rear,  should  overtake  them  and  learn  the 
cause  of  their  tardy  movements." 

"  There,  captain,  your  company  are  just  heaving  in  sight,'' 
said  Willis,  pointing  to  the  head  of  a  column  of  men  just  emerg 
ing  from  a  copsewood  on  the  road  ahout  a  mile  distant.  "  And 
now  Lieutenant  Noel,  we  will,  if  you  please,  be  putting  our 
little  band  in  motion." 

11  Stay  a  moment,"  said  Mosely. — "  Where  is  to  be  your 
next  halting  place  ?" 

"  For  our  midday  halting  place,  some  part  of  Middleborough, 
probably  ;  but  I  have  concluded  to  march  first  into  Plymouth, 
to  report  my  company  to  the  governor." 

"  That  will  be  a  mile  or  two  out  of  the  way,"  observed 
Mosely. 

"  Yes,  and  that  is  not  all,"  interposed  Noel.  "  There  are 
those  about  Plymouth  court  who  are  looking  for  a  chance  to 
pick  a  quarrel  with  Captain  Willis  j  and  I  have  been  advising 
him  to  stear  clear  of  them." 

"  0,  yes,  I  bethink  me  now,"  responded  Mosely.  "-Willis 
told  me  something  about  it.  But  they  wouldn't  be  so  invet 
erate  in  their  sectarian  dislikes,  as  to  rake  them  up  against  a 
man  coming  to  help  them, — especially  in  a  crisis  like  this? 
If  /  had  any  wish  to  go  there,  I  would  not  be  deterred  by  any 
fears  of  that  kind." 

"  Nor  will  I,  Captain  Mosely,"  responded  Willis,  with  a 
determined  air.  "  I  shall  give  them  a  call." 

"  For  all  that,"  rejoined  Noel,  "  I  am  not  without  apprehen 
sions  of  difficulty." 

"  Difficulty  !"  said  Mosely,  in  surprise  at  the  serious  asser 
tion  of  the  other,  "  I  should  like  to  see  them  try  to  make  it, — 
I  will  think  of  this  matter." 

And  so  the  officers  parted,  Willis  and  Noel  with  their  brave 
little  baud,  which  they  now  at  once  put  in  motion,  to  march 


WINSLOW   AND   THE   DEACON.  183 

to  Plymouth,  and  Mosely  to  sit  ou  his  horse  in  waiting  for  his 
company  to  arrive. 

It  was  about  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning ;  and  a  group  of 
the  most  active  members  and  attaches  of  the  court  of  Ply 
mouth,  consisting  of  the  cold,  stately  and  severe  Governor  Wins- 
low  himself,  several  of  the  magistrates,  and  all  the  several  per 
sonages  before  introduced  in  that  connection,  were  standing 
on  the  green  lawn  in  front  of  the  executive  mansion,  where 
they  had  assembled,  as  they  had  often  done  during  the  two 
past  days  of  excitement  and  alarm,  to  hear  the  news  and  dis 
cuss  the  condition  of  public  aifairs.  Deacon  Mudgridge,  who, 
as  usual,  had  engrossed  the  attention  of  the  governor,  was  re 
marking, — 

"  I  think  the  people  yesterday,  albeit  very  natural  on  the 
receiving  of  such  startling  tidings,  were  overmuch  alarmed. 
]3ut  now  that  our  valiant  Captain  Cudworth  and  his  trusty 
company  are  far  on  their  way  towards  the  kenneling  holes  of 
the  hellish  crew,  their  confidence  will  revive." 

"  A^,  that  is  a  good  company  of  the  captain's,  truly,"  respon 
ded  the  governor;  and  I  think  we  may  count  on  them  for  good 
service,  in  chastising  the  audacious  Philip  and  his  murderous 
gang." 

"  Of  a  verity  we  may.  They  have  gone  forth  to  battle 
armed  by  the  panoply  of  the  prayers  of  the  church.  They 
are  like  the  God-selected  band  of  Gideon,  for  they  have  all 
lapped  the  water  of  righteousness,  and  will  surely  prevail. 
How  brother  Dummer  did  wrestle  in  that  exceedingly  able 
prayer  he  made  on  the  eve  of  their  marching,  yester  noon  ! 
I  felt  in^  the  fervor  and  faith  of  that  wondrous  outpouring, 
that  the  time  had  indeed  at  length  come,  when  we  were  to  be 
permitted  to  fulfill  the  command  of  Heaven,  to  drive  out  the 
heathen  and  possess  the  land  that  has  so  long  been  polluted 
by  their  abominations." 

"  I  am  glad,  Deacon,  to  see  you  getting  up  to  the  point  of 


184  THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

your  old  faith  and  cheerfulness,  again.  I  have  thoughtyou 
appeared  rather  cast  down  of  late." 

"  Perad venture  your  excellency  may  not  be  wholly  in  error 
in  that  regard.  I  confess,  as  you  do  know,  governor,  that  my 
Christian  patience  has  been  sorely  tried,  lately,  in  the  matter 
of  the  scandalous  outrage  enacted  by  that  shameless  heretic, 
called  Vane  Willis,  in  abducting  or,  by  his  devilish  arts,  en 
ticing  away  from  her  home,  and  the  lawful  protection  of  her 
friends,  that  young  lamb  of  our  Christian  flock,  the  daughter 
of  our  good  and  worthy  sister  Southworth  " 

"  ftut  I  should  think  Mr.  Sniffkin  would  have  the  greater 
reason  to  be  sad  and  dejected,  if  I  have  rightly  understood 
the  matter." 

"  Mr.  Sniftkin  is  justly  and  properly  indignant,  nnd  has 
already  arranged  to  bring  the  contumacious  villain  to  punish 
ment,  for  that,  and  his  other  public  offenses,  should  he  ever 
again  make  his  appearance.  Nathless  it  could  hardly  be  ex- 
peoted  he  would  feel  so  sensibly  as  I  the  deep  disgrace  thus 
brought  on  the  good  name  of  the  deluded  maiden's  family, 
whereof  I  was  responsible,  and  also  on  the  church,  under  which 
through  me,  its  first  officer,  she  was  in  a  sort  of  tutelage.  I 
have  lain  awake  nights,  and  grieved,  and  grieved,  over  this 
terrible  reproach,  governor,  and  earnestly  prayed  that  the 
base  author  of  it  be  made  to  meet  the  punishment  he  de 
serves." 

"  You  lay  all  the  blame  of  this  untoward  affair,  I  perceive, 
on  the  young  man,  who,  as  I  have  heard, is  not  without  friends 
and  influence  in  some  parts  of  the  colony.  Why  should  not 
the  girl  be  made,  in  some  degree,  at  least,  to  share  it  with 
him  ?  And  there  are  some  other  things  about  this  case,  which 
I  am  not  quite  sure  I  fully  understand,  Deacon  Mudgridge." 

The  Deacon  cast  an  uneasy  glance  at  the  governor;  and 
was  about  to  reply  j  when  he  was  interrupted  by  the  inspirit 
ing  strains  of  martial  music,  indicating  that  some  military 


185 

array  was  approaching.  And  in  :>.  few  minutes  more,  a  small, 
but  well  armed,  and  fine  looking  company  of  foot  soldiers, 
header)  by  a  tall,  handsome  young  officer,  wheeled  round  a 
corner  into  full  view,  and  advancing  in  dressed  column,  and 
steps  all  timed  to  the  tune  of  piercing  fife  and  ra.ttling  drum, 
came  sweeping  down  the  street  in  bold  and  gallant  style  to 
wards  the  spot  where  the  Governor  and  his  attendants  were 
hastily  arranging  themselves  for  a  reception.  Supposing  the 
company  to  be  Henchman's  infantry,  of  whose  march  out  of 
Boston,  the  morning  before,  they  had  been  apprised,  they  al) 
joined,  on  the  first,  appearance  of  the  column,  in  a  welcoming 
hurra;  and  then  stood,  with  gratified  looks,  silently  awaiting 
their  approach. 

"A  fine  company!"  exclaimed  the  governor,  who  was  a  man 
of  military  tastes.  "  A  fine  little  company,  that!"  he  re- 
peated,  with  unwonted  animation,  as  he  glanced  approvingly 
along  the  line.  "What  noble  and  hardy-looking  fellows! 
Ah,  there's  service  in  that  company  !  But,"  he  added,  with 
a  puzzled  expression,  as  they  drew  near — "  but  can  that  officer 
in  Command  be  Captain  Henchman  ?  I  know  Henchman  ; 
that  is  not  him — that  is  a  much  younger  man.  Who  is  he, 
Deacon  Mudgridge?" 

But  the  Deacon  was  quite  too  much  disturbed  by  his  own 
feelings,  by  this  time,  to  heed  the  question.  He  had  that 
moment  identified  the  young  officer  with  the  hated  Vane 
Willis;  and  the  expression  of  trained  meekness  which  first 
sat  upon  his  flat,  meaty  visage,  and  which  was  then  banished 
by  the  surprise  of  the  unexpected  discovery,  had  now  settled 
into  a  look  of  wolfish  ferocity.  For  a  moment,  he  stood  mute 
and  hesitating,  with  his  features  fast  contracting  towards  a 
focus,  and  working  with  suppressed  passnn.  Soon  rallying, 
however,  he  addressed  a  few  low,  earnest  words  to  the  gover-*. 
nor,  and  then  hastily  went  and  whispered  some  order  in  the 
ear  of  Dick  Swain,  who,  with  a  knowing,  affirmative  wink  and 


186  THE   DOOMED    CHIEF. 

nod,  hurried  away  from  the  pl;ice.  Captain  Willis  now  caine 
up,  commanded  a  halt,  and,  uncovering  his  head,  bowed 
respectfully  to  the  governor,  who  seemed  not  a  little  confused 
and  at  a  loss  how  to  act  in  the  unexpected  emergency. 

"  I  came,"  said  Willis,  in  a  clear,  calm  voice,  after  a  pause 
sufficient  to  ensure  attention — "  I  came  here  to  report  myself 
and  company  to  your  Excellency,  as  I  deemed  myself  in  duty 
bound." 

"  I — I  have  not,  I  believe,  the  honor  of  your  acquaintance, 
sir,"  responded  the  governor,  in  evident  embarrassment. 
"  What  company  do  you  propose  to  report  to  our  court,  for 
inspection  or  otherwise  ?" 

11 A  company  of  volunteers,  your  Excellency,  who  have  seen 
fit  to  honor  your  humble  servant,  Vane  Willis,  by  placing  him 
at  their  head  ;  and  who  propose  immediately  to  march  to  the 
post  of  danger,  hoping,  by  the  blessing  of  God,  to  do  some 
service  in  defence  of  the  colony  against  the  savage  foe." 

"  We  have  already  dispatched  a  sufficient  force  for  the  occa 
sion,  we  trust  j  and  they  marched  yesterday,  under  the  com 
mand  of  that  brave  and  skillful  officer — Captain  Cudworth — 
and  with  the  most  happy  auspices,"  was  the  hesitating  and 
equivocal  response  of  the  cold  and  haughty  Winslow. 

"  We  came,"  promptly  replied  the  unflinching  young  offi 
cer,  with  a  slight  spice  of  ironical  bitterness  creeping  into  his 
tone — u  we  came  but  to  report  ourselves,  that  the  court  might 
be  duly  apprised  what  forces  were  in  the  field  — ours  among 
the  number — voluntarily  exposing  their  lives  to  save  the  help 
less  families  of  the  frontier  from  the  torch  and  the  tomahawk 
of  the  merciless  enemy  ye  have  aroused,  and,"  he  added, 
glancing  significantly  at  the  Deacon,  his  Shadow,  and  Sniff- 
kin — "  and  to  ensure  safety  to  those  who  see  fit  to  stay  at 
home." 

"  Be  mindful  of  the  presence  you  are  in,  young  man,"  said 
the  governor,  secretly  stung  at  the  rebuke  to  his  friends,  and 


WILLIS    ACCUSED    OF    QUAKERISM.  137 

perhaps   himself,    involved    in    the    words   and   unsubmissive 
m -inner  of  the  other. 

"I  am,  your  Excellency.  But  our  business  is  completed, 
and  I  have  nothing  further  to  offer/'  responded  the  captain, 
now  turning  with  a  flashing  eye  to  his  company,  and  exclaim 
ing,  with  that  sudden  and  startling  energy  which  suppressed 
excitement  always  imparts  to  the  human  voice,  "Attention, 
fellow  soldiers  !  Shoulder  arms  !  To  the  right  about  face  !" 
"I  can  hold  my  peace  no  longer;  no,  not  a  minute 
— not  a  minute  longer,"  here  interposed  Deacon  Mudgridge, 
trembling  all  over  with  pious  indignation,  and  advancing  with 
hands  rapidly  sawing  the  air,  towards  the  glum  governor. 
"No,  I  can't;  and  I  protest,  if  there  was  nothing  else  to  be 
said  and  done  —  yea,  I  do  earnestly  and  solemnly  protest 
against  our  holy  cause  against  the  heathen  being  endangered 
by  the  least  connection  with  the  ungodly  wretch.  But  there 
is  something  else  to  be  said  and  done.  1  charge,"  he  con 
tinued,  with  increasing  vehemence,  as  his  eye  caugh't  sight  of 
his  supple  tool,  Dick  Swain,  followed  by  the  constable  and  his 
posse,  hurrying  towards  the  scene.  "  I  charge  this  same 
Vane  Willis  with  numerous  high  handed  offenses,  among 
which  it  is  sufficient,  for  this  time,  to  name  the  crime  of  his 
being  a  heretical  and  pestilent  Quaker,  (whereof,  to  avert  the 
anger  of  an  offended  God,  it  has  been  decided  to  purge  the 
land,)  and  the  still  more  heinous  and  crying  offence  of  ab 
ducting  a  worthy  young  maiden  of  this  good  town — for  all 
which  crimes  and  offenses  the  proper  warrants  are  in  the 
hands  of  our  trusty  officer,  here  just  arriving,  and  I  demand 
the  criminal's  immediate  arrest/' 

"  Does  this  look  like  being  a  Quaker  ?"  demanded  Willis, 
who,  the  moment  a  threat  was  made  to  arrest  him,  stopped 
short  in  his  preparations  to  march,  and  boldly  confronting  his 
accuser,  seemed  resolved  to  face  the  charges  on  the  spot. 
"  Does  it  look  like  a  peace-sworn  Quaker,  to  be  here  in  arms, 


i88  THE    DOOMED    CHIEF. 

and  voluntarily  on  my  way  to  the  war?  Away  with  the-  ab 
surd  charge  !  And  as  to  the  other  specified  offence — that  of 
abduction,"  he  added,  advancing  a  step  towards  the  quailing 
Deacon.  "  You,  sir,  may  count  yourself  a  lucky  man,  if  you 
c;m  clear  your  own  skirts,  when  the  day  of  reckoning  shall 
arri\e,  of  everything  chargeable  on  you,  connected  with  that 
mistreated  young  lady's  disappearance." 

"  I  can  testify,"  interposed  Noel,  stepping  forward  to  the 
side  of  his  superior,  and  waving  his  hand  to  attract  the  attention 
of  the  governor,  who  was  evidently  becoming  ill  at  ease  at  the 
aspect  affairs  were  assuming.  "lean  safely  testify  to  Cap 
tain  Willis's  innocence,  and  even  entire  ignorance  of  the  man 
ner  of  the  disappearance  of  the  person  whose  alleged  abduc 
tion  constitutes  the  last  charge  ;  and  but  for  myself,  he  would 
have  to  this  hour,  believed  that  the  abductor  was  no  other 
than  the  accuser  himself." 

"  It  is  false  !"  exclaimed  the  Deacon,  fuming  like  a  tiger 
about  to  be  cheated  out  of  his  prey.  "  It  is  f;ilse  !  It  is  a 
combination  to  screen  the  contumacious  villain,  who  is  verily 
guilty  of  both  the  charged  offences.  And  they,  moreover,  are 
but,  a  part  of  his  crimes.  He  has  reviled  and  spoke  evil  of 
our  rulers,  as  I  do  know.  He  has  committed  treason  against 
the  State,  in  that  he  took  part  with  the  enemy  at  the  late 
trial  of  the  Indians.  He  is  a  scoffer  of  our  holy  church.  He 
is  a  heretic — yea,  a  rank  heretic,  as  well  as  pestilent  Quaker, 
and  I  command  you,  constable,  to  do  your  duty  !" 

"  Bnck,  sir!  lay  no  hand  on  me  !"  exclaimed  Willis,  in  a 
determined  tone,  as  the  officer  and  his  attendants  made  a  move 
towards  him.  ll  Though  I  do  not  intend  to  run  away,  nor  be 
frightened  away  by  your  threats  and  demonstrations,  yet  I  now 
give  you,  one  and  all,  to  understand,  that  I  will  not  submit  to 
an  arrest  on  such  false  and  foolish  charges,  nor  will  I  be  de 
tained  one  moment  longer  than  I  choose." 

11  Do  your  duty  !     Why  don't  you  do  your  duty  ?    Do  your 


ATTEMPTED    ARREST    OF    WILLIS.  189 

duty,  I  say  !"  shouted  the  enraged  Deacon,  brandishing  his 
clenched  fist  towards  the  officer. 

"Advance  at  your  peril,  sir!"  again  cried  the  undaunted 
Willis,  in  a  tone  that  brought  the  officer  a  second  time  to  a 
pause. 

"  Soldiers,"  now  vociferated  Noel,  in  the  sharp  tones  of 
military  command,  "  Soldiers  of  the  rear  ranks !  advance, 
here  on  the  right  and  left,  for  the  protection  of  your  cap 
tain  !" 

"I  denounce  !"  rejoined  the  infuriated  Deacon,  as  with  as 
tonishment  he  saw  the  two  files  of  armed  men  resolutely  ar- 
raving  themselves  on  either  side  of  their  commander — u  I 
denounce  !  I  anathematize  !  I  protest  against  this  high  handed 
resistance  to  authority  !  And  I  appeal  to  the  governor,  who 
beareth  not  the  sword  in  vain.  I  appeal  to  him  to  see  the 
law  executed." 

"  Hold  !"  sternly  cried  the  governor,  obviously  anxious  to 
avoid  an  open  collision,  which  his  conscience  told  him  would 
redound  little  to  the  credit  of  the  court  and  colony — "  Hold  ! 
I  command  the  peace  !  I  command  you  all  to  desist  from 
your  demonstrations,  till  the  matter  can  be  duly  considered  1" 

"  But  is  the  course  of  justice,"  said  the  Deacon,  turning 
wirh  ill-suppressed  irritation  to  the  other — "  Is  the  course  of 
justice,  I  should  like  to  know,  to  be  turned  aside  by  threats 
and  treasonable  demonstrations?" 

"  Certainly  not,  Deacon,"  responded  the  governor,  depre- 
catingly,  as  he  glanced  uneasily  from  one  party  to  the  other 
like  a  man  between  two  fires — "  that  is,  it  certainly  ought 
not  to  be  ;  but  it  should  be  peaceful  and  deliberate;  and  I 
was  about  to  say,  that  the  warrants  having  been  duly  placed 
in  the  hands  of  the  officer,  though  the  accused  may  be  able 
to  extenuate,  and  I  hope  purge  himself  of  the  charged  offen 
ses,  yet  now,  as  the  matter  is  situated,  I  see  no  other  way 
but  he  must  submit  to  arrest." 


190  THE    DOOMED    CHIEF. 

"Well,  1  do," — here  promptly  rose  the  loud,  grum  voice 
of  a  brawny  looking  man,  who,  before  unnoticed,  had  been 
sitting  on  a  horse,  on  the  outside  of  the  now  accumulated 
crowd,  an  attentive  witness  of  the  altercation — "  /  do,  /  see 
another  way  to  get  along  with  the  foolish  flareup  ;  and  that  is 
for  the  meddlesome  movers  to  back  out,  and  let  Captain  Wil 
lis  and  his  company  go  about  their  business." 

"  Who  is  that  who  presumes  to  gainsay  the  order  the 
governor  has  just  so  deliberately  given  ?"  demanded  the  un 
yielding  Deacon,  turning  with  a  look  of  mingled  surprise  and 
anger,  to  this  new  and  unexpected  interposer. 

"  Don't  fret."  coolly  returned  the  other — "  don't  fret,  mis 
ter,  all  in  good  time  ;  though  you  are  not  quite  the  one  to  de 
serve  an  answer  to  the  unmannerly  question.  But  hark'ee, 
governor,  I  am  Captain  Mosely,  of  the  Massachusetts  volun 
teers,  now  resting  a  bit  on  the  plain  up  yonder,  while  I  rode 
in  here." 

"  Indeed  !"  responded  the  governor  in  surprise,  while 
something  like  a  blush  passed  over  his  austere  visage,  at  the 
thought  of  what  the  other  must  have  been  witnessing — "  very 
well,  sir,  I  will  hear  what  vou  may  have  to  say." 

11 1  intend  you  shall,"  bluntly  rejoined  the  captain,  whose 
brow  gave  unmistakeable  tokens  of  a  storm.  "I  intend  you 
shall  ]  for  having  been  listening  to  this  trumpery  affair  as 
long  as  my  patience  will  hold  out,  I  am  ready  to  let  off.  And 
this  is  just  what  I  have  to  say — no  more,  no  less — that  if 
such  officers  as  Captain  Willis,  here,  who,  with  his  company, 
promise  Jbo  be  the  most  efficient  little  corps  in  the  field — if 
such  officers  as  he  are  to  be  harassed,  snapped  up,  and  de 
tained  by  malicious  prosecutions  or  charges,  growing  out  of 
your  miserable,  strait-laced,  sectarian  mummeries,  I  swear 
by  the  God  that  made  me,  I  will,  within  one  hour,  be  on  the 
march  home  again,  to  disband  my  company,  and  let  the  sa 
vage  hell-hounds  come  on  and  work  their  will  on  ye.  But, 


MOSELY  ORDERS  WILLIS  TO  I ROOEED.        191 

for  the  sake  of  the  defenceless  families  of  your  frontier — riot 
you — I'll  be  cussed  if  I'll  allow  you  even  that  alternative. 
Captain  Willis,"  he  added,  drawing  out  two  pistols,  and  cock 
ing  them,  as  he  threw  a  significant  glance  at  the  recoiling 
constable  and  his  posse,  "  Captain  Willis,  put  your  company 
into  motion,  sir  !  I'll  take  the  responsibility  of  covering  your 
rear." 

The  last  words  had  scarcely  escaped  the  lips  of  the  bold 
captain,  before  the  sharp  commands  of  Willis,  lt  Prepare  to 
march  !  March  V  rung  out  upon  the  air,  and  the  next  mo 
ment  his  exulting  band  moved  defiantly  away  from  the  dis 
graceful  scene,  leaving  the  governor  biting  his  lips  in  cha 
grin,  and  the  baffled  Deacon  fairly  foaming  in  his  speechless 
rasp. 


192  THE    DOOMED    CHIEF. 


CHAPTER    XI. 

"  Not  ink,  but  blood  and  tears,  now  serve  the  turn, 
To  draw  the  figure  of  New  England's  urn, 
New  England's  hour  of  passion  is  at  hand; 
No  power,  except  divine,  can  it  withstand." 

BENJAMIN  THOMPSON,  poet  of  1675 

the  list  cKwcribcd  impotent  and  despicable  attempt 
to  detain,  auJ,  at  least,  disgrace  the  patriotic  young  captain, 
made  by  ihe  malicious  and  bigoted  schemers,  who  had,  unfor 
tunately  for  the  public  interests  at  this  time,  obtained  a  con 
trolling  influence  over  vhe  court  of  Plymouth,  no  further  mo 
lestation  was  offered  him,  and  he  led  his  company  triumphantly 
out  of  town,  followed  by  his  intrepid  friend,  Captain  Mosely, 
who  still  claimed  the  honor  of  covering;  the  rear  till  they 
reached  the  spot  where  his  own  company  had  halted. 

"  Well,  Captain  Willis,"  said  Mosely,  now  spurring  his 
old  horse  forward,  with  a  look  of  grave  humor,  "  for  this  im 
portant  and  dangerous  service,  in  bringing  you  so  handsomely 
out  of  your  battle  with  deacons  and  dunderpates,  I  shall 
expect  to  be  remembered  by  you,  and  your  fine  fellows  here, 
when  you  may  see  me  and  mine  in  close  quarters  with  the  red 
devils  of  the  woods." 

"  Ay,  ay,  Captain  Mosely,"  responded  the  other  in  the 
same  spirit.  "  There  shall  be  no  backwardness  on  my  part; 
and  if  I  rightly  read  the  looks  of  our  boys  here,  I  can  answer 
for  them  also.  What  say  you,  my  lads,"  he  added,  beginning 
to  twirl  his  cap  as  a  signal,  "  have  you  a  cheer  for  the  gallant 
captain  and  his  company  1" 


ODD  INTRODUCTION.  193 

The  cheer  was  given  and  several  times  repeated  in  a  queerly 
blended  tone  of  fun  and  earnest,  which  more  significantly  told 
the  state  of  feeling  which  the  late  scene,  and  its  half  ludicrous 
termination,  had  created  among  the  men,  than  a  whole  page 
of  description. 

"  Will  you  take  the  lead,  Captain  Mosely?"  asked  Willis, 
observing  his  Indian  scouts  now  coming  forward  from  the 
bushes,  and  falling  into  his  rear  in  readiness  to  march. 

"  No,"  replied  Mosely,  laughingly ;  "  there's  no  knowing 
what  will  happen  to  you,  till  you  get  a  little  further  out  of  the 
shadow  of  the  august  court  of  Plymouth.  No,  move  ahead, 
and  we  will  follow.  But  hold  on  a  few  minutes,  till  I  have 
mustered  my  men.  I'll  be  hanged  if  I  won't  tell  them  this 
cussed  droll  flareup  we  just  had.  There's  nothing  like  a 
good  lautrh  for  a  soldier  before  going  to  battle." 

In  spite  of  the  remonstrances  of  Willis,  Mosely  rode  off, 
arrayed  his  company,  and  was  soon  heard  relating  to  them, 
with  his  own  peculiar  coloring,  what  had  transpired  to  give 
rise  to  the  demonstrations,  of  which,  standing  at  too  great  a 
distance  to  understand  the  words  exchanged  on  the  occasion, 
they  had  been  the  wondering  witnesses. 

A  loud  laugh  simultaneously  burst  from  the  lips  of  the 
rough  captain's  hundred  congenial  followers,  as  he  concluded 
his  humorous  description  j  and  this,  at  his  instance,  was  fol 
lowed  up  by  three  lively  cheers  for  Captain  Willis  and  his 
company.  And  with  this  odd  introduction  to  each  other,  the 
two  forces  were  both  immediately  put  in  motion  for  their  des 
tination. 

Much  of  the  road  now  ran  over  dry  pine  barrens,  making, 
with  the  sand  yielding  under  their  feet,  and  the  clouds  of  suf 
focating  dust  continually  rising  to  the  heads  of  the  soldiery, 
the  most  toilsome  and  disagreeable  marching  which  an  army 
can  be  called  on  to  encounter.  And  yet  so  vigorously  did 
these  hardy  men  push  forward  through  the  day,  that  by  sunset 
13 


194  THE    DOOMED   CHIEF. 

they  had  reached  the  western  point  of  that  cluster  of  large 
ponds  lying  about  half  way  between  Plymouth  and  the  north 
ern  heads  of  Narraganset  bay,  which  had  been  appointed  for 
their  rendezvous.  Here  they  encamped  for  the  night.  But 
the  rising  sun  of  the  next  morning  looked  down  again  upon  a 
rapid  march  for  the  scene  of  action. 

As  they  drew  near  the  localities  of  the  outbreak,  on  this 
day's  march  they  began  to  see  evidence  going  clearly  to  show, 
that  the  reports  of  the  alleged  outrages,  which  had  been 
spread  abroad,  were  not,  as  many  had  hoped  and  believed 
them  to  be,  either  false  or  exaggerated.  The  indications  of 
the  perilous  situation  of  the  inhabitants  all  alon<r  the  southern 
borders  of  the  colony,  thickened  with  every  mile  of  their  pro 
gress.  And  soon  spectacles  were  often  encountered  on  the 
road,  well  calculated  to  bring  these  melancholy  convictions 
home  to  the  bosoms  of  the  men,  to  arouse  their  spirit,  and 
make  them  eager  to  press  forward  for  retributive  vengeance 
on  the  authors  of  the  havoc  and  desolation,  which  had  so  evi 
dently  been  spread,  and  which  was  still  being  spread,  in  almost 
every  direction  over. the  country.  Now  they  were  met  by  a 
fast  speeding  horseman  riding  to  announce  the  massacre  of  a 
single  family  residing  in  some  secluded  location,  and  now  by 
others  bringing  the  tidings  of  the  devastation  of  whole  neigh- 
borhoods.  Now  they  encountered  on  the  road  a  bleeding 
fugitive,  who  perhaps  the  only  survivor  of  his  family  was 
fleeing  for  safety,  and  now  scattering  companies  of  wailing 
women  and  children,  recently  escaped  from  scenes  of  slaughter, 
and  hurrying  towards  the  older  settlements  for  places  of 
refuge;  while  far  and  wide,  over  the  low-lying  country  around 
were  every  hour  seen  shooting  up  at  different  points,  slender 
columns  of  vapor,  denoting  the  yet  unannounced  destruction 
of  solitary  dwellings,  or  broader  clouds  of  smoke,  showing  the 
conflagration  of  freshly  assaulted  villages  or  hamlets.  It 
seemed  indeed  as  if  every  piece  of  forest  concealed  within  its 


JOIN    THE   PLYMOUTH    TROOPS.  195 

thickets  an  unseen  band  of  the  lurking  foe,  who  were  every 
day  and  hour  somewhere  bursting  from  their  fastnesses  upon 
the  unsuspecting  inhabitants,  spreading  death  and  destruction 
over  one  place,  and  then  disappearing,  as  suddenly  as  they 
came,  to  repeat  the  same  awful  tragedy  in  another. 

All  discerning  men  could  now  see  before  them,  the  conse 
quences  of  the  blind  policy  which  had  been  pursued  by  the 
court  of  Plymouth — a  policy  founded  in  self-exaltation  over 
the  despised  Indian — in  a  misapprehension  of  his  character 
and  intellect — in  a  careless  disregard  of  his  rights,  and  in  a 
but  too  illy  disguised  desire  for  his  subjection.  They  could 
see  that  this  policy,  with  the  acts  of  injustice  and  oppression 
which  it  indirectly  sanctioned,  or  at  least  very  naturally  led 
to,  had  driven  the  red  men  to  take  that  final  stand  from  which 
there  would  be  no  receding,  till  either  they  or  their  opponents 
should  be  swept  from  the  land.  They  saw  all  this;  but,  they 
eaw  at  the  same  time,  that  the  hour  for  regrets  and  crimina 
tions  had  now  passed  by,  and  that  it  was  the  duty  of  all  to 
unite  in  the  common  defence  of  the  imperiled  colonies. 

At  a  seasonable  hour  that  evening,  all  the  Massachusetts' 
forces  together  with  the  hardy  little  hand  of  Captain  Willis, 
reached  the  late  scene  of  carnage  at  Swansey,  and  at  once 
united  themselves  with  the  Plymouth  troops  at  the  garrison 
house  near  a  bridge  leading  over  a  slender  arm  of  the  hay  into 
King  Philip's  dominions.  Here  they  were  welcomed  with 
great  rejoicings  by  the  alarmed  garrison,  who  had  already  lost 
several  sentinels  by  the  fire  of  the  Indians  everywhere  belea 
guering  them  from  coverts  in  the  forests  around,  and  with 
wild  war  whoop's  and  other  demonstrations  of  rage  and  defiance, 
threatening  a  general  assault.  Nothing,  however,  but  a  little 
ineffectual  skirmishing,  or  rather  alarms,  on  the  part  of  the 
pickets,  and  the  empty,  though  terrific  demonstrations  of  the 
besieging  hordes  of  the  invisible  foe,  occurred  to  call  the 
fcroops  from  their  repose,  at  any  time  during  the  night.  But 


196  THE   DOOMED   (JHIEF. 

early  the  next  morning  a  large  band  of  pnintod 
armed  with  musket,  tomakawk,  and  scalping  knife,  boldly 
crossed  the  bridge  in  open  view  of  the  garrison,  and  with 
menacing  gestures  and  loud  yells  of  defiance,  stood  for  some 
time,  challenging  the  hesitating  troops  to  come  out  and  meet 
them  in  combat. 

"  I  am  not  a-going  to  stand  that,  by  a  jug-full  !"  impatiently 
exclaimed  Captain  Mosely,  who,  with  Cud  worth,  now  promo 
ted  to  the  post  of  commander  of  the  united  forces,  had  been 
witnessing  the  impudent  bravado  of  the  Indians.  "  If  but 
twenty  men  of  my  company,  or  those  of  any  other,  will  join 
me  for  a  sally,  I  swear,  it  shall  be  made  before  I  am  half  an 
hour  older." 

11  Why, — your  life,  and  the  lives  of  half  your  men,  would 
pay  the  forfeit  of  your  rashness,  captain,"  responded  the  timid 
and  overcautious  general,  with  a  look  of  blank  surprise. 

"  Well,  general,  suppose  it  should  be  so,  wouldn't  an  equal 
number  of  the  enemy  be  likely  to  share  the  same  fate  ?  And 
even  if  they  did  not,  do  you  think  our  lives,  so  sold,  would  go 
for  nothing?  I,  who  count  myself  considerably  better  than  a 
green  one  in  matters  of  war,  have  always  noticed  that  ten 
lives  lost  in  a  bold  dash  will  often,  by  intimidating  the  enemy, 
save  a  hundred  in  the  general  results  of  a  campaign.  It 
will  probably  be  so  here  ;  and  I  think  this  is  just  the  time  to 
make  a  push  on  those  red,  vaunting  devils,  which  will  show 
them  a  specimen  of  the  mettle  we  are  made  of." 

"  Yes,  but  for  st  perilous  a  step  as  that,  Captain  Mosely. — 
really,  sir,  as  the  commander  here,  I  hardly  dare  incur  the 
responsibility  of" —  « 

"  Never  mind,  general,  don't  fret  your  gizzard  about  that, 
in  the  least.  When  the  court  of  Plymouth  haul  you  for  it, 
just  say  to  them  tlat  the  lawless  old  Captain  Mosely  insisted 
on  shouldering  the  whole  responsibility  of  the  affair.  I  shall 
go, — good-morning,  sir.  Ho  !  there,  my  merry  volunteers  1" 


PREPARING    FOR    THE    BATTLE.  197 

continued  the  captain,  hastening  towards  his  company,  and 
shaking  his  fist  significantly  towards  the  enemy,  do  you  hear 
and  see  that  yelping  litter  of  hell  yonder,  daring  us  to  our 
teeth  ?  Now,  how  many  of  you  will  follow  me  to  give  them 
a  lesson  which  shall  show  them  the  difference  between  our 
cold  lead  and  their  empty  brairging  ?" 

"  All  I  all !  shouted  fifty  resolute  fellows,  seizing  their  guns 
and  rushing  forward. 

"  Just  what  I  expected  of  you,  my  hearties  !"  exclaimed  the 
gratified  officer,  with  a  proud  glance  at  his  followers.  "  Now 
all  you  that  are  in  earnest  about  this  business,  take  ten  min 
utes  to  equip  yourselves;  and,  at  the  end  of  that  time  appear 
here  on  the  ground,  with  your  guns  all  well  primed  and  loaded, 
knives  where  you  can  lay  your  hands  on  them  for  instant  use, 
and  powder  and  ball  enough  for  a  day's  battle.  I  never  heard 
of  a  soldier  who  came  off  any  the  worse  for  being  well  pro 
vided." 

"  Aha  !  how  is  this,  Captain  Mosely  ?"  cried  Willis,  who, 
having  perceived  what  was  going  forward,  from  a  little  dis 
tance,  now  came  hurrying  to  the  spot, — "  How  is  this,  sir  ? 
are  you  a-goirig  to  be  exclusive  towards  your  friends,  in  this 
movement  ?" 

"0  no, — the  more  the  merrier:  but  I  did  not  know  that 
you  and  your  boys  would  crave  the  honor  of  facing  the  po- 
kerish  prospect." 

"  Well,  we  do,  sir.  We  had  just  been  hatching  up  some 
thing  of  the  kind  ourselves;  and  would  all  gladly  partici 
pate." 

"  Really  ?" 

"  Yes,  give  us  a  chance,  and " 

"  You  shall  have  it,  sir  !  Your  very  offer  shows  you  de 
serve  it.  And  it  shows,  also,  I  have  not  been  at  all  mistaken 
in  you,  Vane  Willis.""' 

For  the  ardent  young  officer   to  fly  to  his  own  company 


198  THE   DOOMED    CHIEF. 

notify  them  of  the  proposed  sally  upon  the  taunting  foe^ 
obtain  their  eager  response  for  a  participation,  see  them  set 
about  their  preparations,  and  return  to  the  side  of  his  intrepid 
friend,  Mosely — occupied  him  but  a  few  minutes.  The  two 
congenial  spirits  then  together  went  to  a  loop-hole  which  com 
manded  the  whole  ground,  and  speedily  arranged  a  plan  of 
attack,  and  the  different  parts  which  each  of  their  companies 
should  take  in  carrying  it  into  execution. 

The  new  movement,  by  this  time,  had  been  noised  through 
the  whole  garrison;  and  all  those  who  were  not  to  be  partici 
pants  crowded  to  the  loop-holes  and  every  other  spot  which 
mi^ht  answer  for  a  look-out,  and  with  intense  interest  awaited 
in  silence  the  appearance  of  the  expected  sortie,  the  exact 
plan  of  which  yet  remained  a  secret  with  the  projectors. 
Presently,  Captain  Mosely  and  his  men,  gliding  noiselessly 
into  the  yard  in  front,  and  with  trailed  arms,  and  in  irregular, 
broken,  and  seemingly  confused  lines,  made  their  way  rapidly 
to  a  partially  screening  hedge  about  half  way  from  the  garri 
son  house  to  the  water,  and  within  short  musket  shot  of  the 
enemy.  To  the  wonder  of  the  spectators,  Mosely's  men  were 
suffered  to  gain  the  hedge,  and  throw  themselves  down  beneath 
it,  without  receiving  a  single  shot  from  the  enemy,  whose. at 
tention  seemed  suddenly  to  have  been  drawn  to  the  right  and 
the  left.  The  secret,  however,  was  the  next  moment  disclosed. 
Captain  Willis,  having  divided  his  band  and  placed  the  two 
divisions  at  the  different  ends  of  the  enclosure,  had  sallied 
out  at  the  head  of  one  of  them,  while  Noel  led  the  other,  and 
come  into  open  view  of  the  enemy  before  Mosely  and  his  men 
made  their  appearance.  And  these  two  flanking  parties,  who 
had  at  first  struck  out  laterally  some  distance  in  opposite  di 
rections,  to  divert  the  attention  of  the  Indians  from  the  force 
advancing  in  front,  were  now  seen  bounding  forward  from 
stump  to  stump  in  converging  lines  towards  the  bridge,  occa- 


THE    BATTLE.  199 

sionally  discharging  their  pieces,  and  receiving  shots  from  the 
now  aroused  enemy  in  return. 

At  that  juncture,  a  sudden  movement  was  seen  along  the 
hedge,  and  the  next  moment  the  stentorian  voice  of  Captain 
Merely  was  heard — 

"  Front  line  prepare  to  fire  ! — rear  line  to  charge  by,  with 
loaded  pieces!  Fire!  Charge! — in  the  name  of  God, 
charge!" 

The  explosive  crash  of  fifty  blazing  muskets  instantly  fol 
lowed,  and  the  next  moment  Captain  Mosely,  with  his  rear 
line,  leaving  the  front  one  to  re-load  and  come  on,Jeaped  the 
hedge,  charged  furiously  forward,  and  disappeared  in  the 
smoke,  which,  rolling  down  the  hill,  completely  screened  them 
in  their  course  from  the  aim  of  the  astonished  foe.  Then 
rose,  from  under  the  drifting  smoke  cloud,  the  commingling 
shouts  and  yells  of  the  combatants,  and  the  reports  of  rapidly 
discharging  musketry,  showing  the  fury  of  the  conflict  that 
now  ensued.  But  before  the  startled  spectators  at  the  garri 
son  could  realize  the  scene  that  had  so  suddenly  burst  upon, 
their  view,  the  brunt  of  the  battle  was  over,  and  the  fate  of 
the  field  decided.  With  the  lifting  of  the  sulphurous  veil 
that  had  shrouded  the  spot,  the  now  uniting  forces  of  Willis 
and  Mosely  were  seen  hotly  pursuing  the  terror-stricken 
eavHge.s,  who,  like  a  herd  of  wild  horses,  were  rushing  pell 
mell  over  the  bridge  to  gain  the  coverts  of  the  bushy  plain 
beyond. 

Shout  after  shout  of  exultation  now  burst  from  the  elated 
troops  of  the  garrison,  on  beholding  so  complete  a  rout  of  an 
enemy  from  whom,  ten  minutes  before,  nothing  but  the  de- 
Btruction  of  half  the  numbers  of  their  assailing  friends  was 
expected.  And  they  suddenly  grew  valorous,  formed  in  front 
of  the  garrison  house,  and  began  to  move  towards  the  bridge; 
while  a  still  more  elated  squad  of  fifteen  or  twenty  troopers, 
formed  from  the  cavalry  of  Captain  Prentiss,  mounted  their 


200  THE    DOOMED    CHIEF. 

horses,  and,  under  the  lead  of  a  subaltern  officer,  dashed  down 
the  road  and  went  thundering  over  the  bridge  to  join  in  pur- 
suit  of  the  now  despised  enemy. 

"Now,  Captain  Mosely,"  said  Willis,  coming  up,  after 
having  halted  his  men  at  a  point  in  the  road  where  the  woods 
were  becoming  thick  enough  to  afford  places  of  concealment 
for  the  Indians — "now,  captain,  I  would  not  dictate,  but 
would  certainly  advise  you  to  adopt  a  different  mode  of 
pursuit.  We  have  left  a  number  of  the  foe  on  the  field,  but 
thus  far,  providentially,  have  not  lost  a  man  ourselves." 

"  No,  thank  God  ;  and  so  have  fully  made  good  what  I 
told  that  quivering  old  granny  of  a  general,  at  the  outset. 
But  do  you  think  the  scared  devils,  that  have  made  such  good 
use  of  their  legs  to  get  out  of  our  reach,  will  muster  courage 
enough  to  make  another  stand  ?" 

"  Not  on  the  road,  openly,  nor  in  a  united  band  anywhere, 
probably." 

"How  then,  or  in  what  places?  There  is  not  now  even  a 
shadow  of  the  whelps  anywhere  to  be  seen." 

"  And  therein  lies  the  greatest  of  our  dangers.  You  see 
those  scattered  little  thickets,  with  bushy  hillocks,  and  an  oc 
casional  old  log,  which  begin  to  skirt  the  ruad  on  either  hide, 
two  or  three  hundred  yards  ahead,  don't  you  V 

4<  Yes,  but  the  road  is  clear  for  four  times  that  distance." 
"  That  may  be  true,  and  yet  behind  every  one  of  those  dark 
objects  may,  and  probably  does,  lie  an  Indian  with  cocked 
musket,  waiting  for  us  to  approach  near  enough  along  the 
road,  to  enable  him  to  make  sure  of  the  victim  he  shall  single 
out  for  his  murderous  aim." 

"Aha!  That  is  their  game,  is  it?  Well,  Vane,  I  have 
all  along  told  you,  I  should  have  to  knuckle  to  you  in  the 
mysteries  of  the  bush  fight.  So,  now  for  the  plan  you  would 
propose,  what  is  it  ?" 

"  Simply  for  every  one  now  to  become  his  own  keeper,  and 


CHARGE  OF  THE  CAVALRY.  201 

Bght  his  own  battles  :  that  is,  for  the  men  to  scatter  widely 
into  the  woods  on  both  sides  of  the  road,  and  advance,  in 
Something  like  a  general  line,  perhaps,  but  rods  apart;  so  that 
each,  keeping  a  tree  or  some  object  between  him  and  all  sus 
picions  looking  coverts,  can,  while  taking  care  of  himself,  be 
in  the  way  of  doing  effectual  service  in  killing  or  routing  out  the 
foe  from  his  lurking  places.  It  is  their  fashion  of  fighting,  and 
the  only  one  for  us  to  adopt,  if  we  would  conquer,  or  even 
successfully  resist  them." 

u  What  say  you,  boys  ?"  said  Mosely,  turning  to  his  com 
pany.  "  Captain  Willis,  here,  though  voting  in  years,  is  an 
old  sc-holar  in  the  matters  of  which  he  speaks,  and  probably 
knows  better  how  to  circumvent  the  red  sarpents  we  have  now 
to  deal  with,  than  any  man  in  the  army.  Perhaps  we  had 
better  follow  his  advice.  So,  break  ranks,  and  be  on  the 
move." 

"  Let  your  men  take  the  centre,  then,  Captain  Mosely," 
rejoined  Willis.  u  Noel  and  myself  will  again  divide  our 
command,  and  move  a  little  ahead  of  you,  on  your  flanks, 
leaving  you  to  deal  with  such  game  as  we  may  drive  into  jour 
beat  " 

As  the  men  of  both  companies  were  about  to  betake  them 
selves  separately  to  the  wood^s  in  accordance  with  this  politic 
arrangement,  the  squad  of  .cavalry,  whose  new-born  zeal  had 
fired  them  to  join  in  the  pursuit,  came  furiously  galloping 
along  the  road,  and,  in  spite  of  the  timely  warnings  of  Cap 
tain  Willis  and  others,  dashed  heedlessly  onward  to  overtake 
the  foe,  who,  as  they  still  persisted  in  believing,  must  be,  like 
other  beaten  enemies,  flying  in  the  open  road,  some  distance 
ahead.  And  being  confirmed  in  this  impression  by  the  fact, 
that  nothing  was  to  be  seen  in  the  way,  as  far  as  the  first 
reach  extended,  they  rode  on  in  conscious  security,  and  with 
incivasinoj  speed,  till  they  arrived  at  a  sudden  turn  in  the 
road  ;  when  pulling  up  to  cast  forward  for  new  objects,  they 


202  THE   DOOMEf    CHIEF. 

descried  a  little  band  of  Indians,  a  few  hundred  yards  HI  ad 
vance,  looking  wildly  around  them,  in  the  greatest  seeming 
agitation  and  terror,  and  ostensibly  hurrying  away  to  escape 
the  threatened  pursuit. 

"Charge  !  charge  upon  the  skulking  rascals!"  exclaimed  the 
officer  in  command,  drawing  a  pistol  and  fiercely  waving  his 
sword  for  the  onset. 

It  was  the  last  word  he  was  destined  ever  to  utter.  At 
that  instant,  a  scattering  volley,  streaming  out  from  a  dozen 
coverts  in  the  forest  around,  was  poured  upon  them  by  the 
invisible  foe.  The  officer  reeled  in  his  seat,  dropped  the  reins, 
and  in  the  flouncing  and  turning  of  his  unchecked  horse, 
soon  came  to  the  ground,  writhing  in  the  agonies  of  death. 
Several  ofthe  men  werealso  severely  wounded,  but  being  able  to 
keep  their  saddles,  all  turned  and  fled  in  wild  dismay  from  the 
fatal  scene. 

"  Hold  I"  sharply  exclaimed  Captain  Willis,  who  anticipa 
ting  the  result  of  this  rash  and  heedless  advance,  and  far  out 
stripping  his  companions  in  the  woods  to  keep  as  near  the 
endangered  p;>rty  as  possible,  now  burst  suddenly  into  the 
road, — u  hold  !  Would  you  leave  your  dying  leader  to  be 
scalped  and  tomahawked  in  the  road  ?  Come  back,  if  ye  be 
men  !  Come  back,  some  of  you,  and  help  me  bring  him 
away  I" 

But  the  panic  struck  troopers  paid  no  other  heed  to  the 
humane  appeal,  than  by  spurring  their  horses  to  greater  speed 
in  escaping  from  the  vicinity  of  danger.  The  heroic  young 
captain,  however,  whom  no  sense  of  personal  peril  colild  de 
ter  from  the  performance  of  any  duty  which  he  believed  hu 
manity  demanded  at  his  hands,  hesitated  not  a  moment,  but 
ran  to  the  speechless  and  gasping  sufferer,  raised  him  from 
the  ground,  clasped  him  round  the  chest,  and  bore  him,  re 
gardless  of  the  fresh  shower  of  hostile  bullets  which  were  di 
rected  towards  the  spot,  resolutely  back  to  a  place  of  safety. 


DEATH    OP   THE   CAVALRY   OFFICER.  203 

"That  was  a  brave  deed  of  yours,  Captain  Willis,"  said 
Mosely,  now  seen  hastening  to  the  spot,  where  the  former  had 
laid  down  his  charge,  and  was  searching  for  the  fatal  wound. 
"  Yes,"  he  continued  looking  down  with  an  air  of  deep  com 
miseration  on  the  last  struggles  of  the  expiring-  victim, — 
"yes,  a  brave,  but,  as  far  as  life  is  concerned,  a  useless  effort. 
See  !  the  poor  fellow  is  gone  I" 

"  I  see  he  is.  Shame  on  the  cowards  who  deserted  him, 
with  a  wound  from  which  for  aught  they  knew  he  might  re 
cover  ;  but  I  am  resolved  to  see,  before  I  give  over  the  chase, 
if  his  death  cannot  be  revenged." 

"  You  are  right,  my  brave  friend.  It  will  never  do  to  leave 
the  murderous  hounds  with  the  idea  that  they  have  repulsed 
us.  We  will  leave  the  body  of  this  luckless  man  to  be  taken 
by  his  friends,  who,  as  we  pass  on,  will  doubtless  come  to 
look  for  it.  We  will  leave  the  dead  in  spirit,  to  bury  their 
dead  in  the  flesh,  and  fall  into  our  places  with  our  men,  who 
are  now  getting  abreast  of  us.  This  ambush  and  mishap, 
Vane,  have  made  me  a  full  convert  to  your  notions  of  fighting 
Indians  ;  and,  as  bad  as  I  hate  skulking,  I  shall  hereafter  un 
hesitatingly  adopt  them  for  my  men." 

"  And  yourself,  too,  captain, — much  more  strictly  than  I 
have  perceived  you  to  be  doing,  since  we  entered  the  bush. 
And  particularly  cautious  must  you,  and  all  of  us,  now  be- 
fcome,  as  the  enemy  are  lying  concealed,  doubtless,  at  no  great 
distance  in  front." 

"  Well,  the  nearer  the  better; — I  am  aching  to  get  my  eyes 
on  the  infernal  scamps." 

The  two  officers  then  hastened  away  to  their  respective 
lines  of  advance.  Mosely  repairing,  with  deliberate  step,  to 
take  the  lead,  a  little  in  front  of  the  centre  of  his  extended 
line,  and  Willis,  swiftly  threading  the  woods  to  the  head 
of  his  slow  and  stealthily-moving  flanking  party  on  the 
right. 


204  THE  DOOMED  CHIEF. 

Leaving  ins  men  to  move  directly  on  without  alter ing~their 
pace  or  relaxing  the  caution,  which  he  knew  was  now  espe 
cially  needed,  Captain  Willis  took  a  wide,  outward  sweep, 
but  with  a  speed  sufficient  still  to  keep  him  considerably  in 
advance  of  the  foremost  of  his  men  ;  and  then  tacking  short 
to  the  left,  soon  gained  a  thickly  covered  elevation,  which 
overl  oked  all  the  principal  coverts  that  shielded  the  enemy 
in  their  fatal  assault  upon  the  discomfited  troopers.  Creep 
ing  cautiously  along  to  the  edge  of  the  thicket  on  the  brow 
of  the  elevation,  he  fell  to  inspecting,  one  after  another,  every 
dark  spot  and  depression  in  the  ground,  within  the  reach  of 
his  vision,  where  any  of  the  foe  could  possibly  lie  concealed. 
At  first  he  ran  his  eye  successively  over  all  such  objects  and 
places,  without  discovering  anything  calculated  to  excite  the 
least  suspicion.  No  motion  was  anywhere  perceptible,  and 
no  object  anywhere  in  sight  presented  other  than  a  perfectly 
natural  appearance.  Presently  the  sharp  cracking  of  a  dry 
limb  under  some  heavy  tread,  away  to  the  left,  reached  his 
ear,  and  almost  at  the  same  instant,  a  slight,  quick  movement 
of  something  somewhere  within  the  area  which  had  just  un 
dergone  his  fruitless  inspection,  flitted  indistinctly  across  his 
half  averted  vision.  He  therefore  again  closely  bent  his  gaze 
in  the  direction  ;  but  for  some  time  with  no  letter  success 
than  before.  At  length,  however,  he  detected  what  appeared 
like  two  small  humps  or  hummock,  ranging  in  a  line,  one 
before  the  other,  standing  up  just  in  sight  out  of  a  little  hol 
low  so  thickly  fringed,  on  the  side  next  to  Mosely's  advancing 
line,  with  low,  leafy  shrubs,  as  to  afford  a  perfect  concealment 
of  what  might  be  lying  in  the  hollow  behind  them.  Feeling 
very  confident"  that  tho'se  hump  like  appearances,  though 
seemingly  as  immovable  as  the  ground  itself,  were  not  there 
at  his  previous  inspection,  he  taxed  his  vision  to  the  utter 
most  to  see  if  he  could  detect  anything  there  which  had 
effected  the  change,  .when  he  soon  discerned  something  which 


DEATH   OP   THE    INDIAN   BRAVE.  205 

seemed  like  a  straight  rod,  or  stout  staff,  extending,  ns?  the 
exactly  corresponding  sections,  seen  through  the  interstices 
of  the  leaves,  clearly  indicated,  from  the  forward  hump, 
through  to  the  other  side  of  the  bushes.  And  the  next  mo 
ment  the  truth  came  like  a  flash  to  the  mind  of  the  startled 
officer.  The  two  humps  were  the  upraised  shoulders  and 
head  of  a  crouching  Indian,  and  the  rod,  his  irun,  le\eied  at 
some  one  of  the  approaching  line  of  white  men,  and  its  fire 
but  delayed  for  a  fairer  exposure  of  the  marked  victim,  or  the 
lessening  of  the  intervening  distance,  to  make  more  certain 
the  result  of  the  shot.  As  Willis  cast  his  eye  in  the  direc 
tion  indicated  by  the  suspicious  tube,  his  heart  leaped  to  his 
mouth  on  descrying  the  stalwart  Mosely  advancing  in  the 
same  ran^e,  not  more  than  thirty  rods  from  the  concealed  foe, 
using  little  or  no  precaution,  and  evidently  unconscious  of  the 
proximity  of  danger.  Although  his  own  stand  was  even 
more  distant  from  the  savage,  he  hesitated  not  an  instant  to 
bring  his  riiie  to  an  aim,  and  lay,  with  his  finger  on  the  trig 
ger,  awaiting  the  first  movement  of  the  foe,  to  breathe  a 
prayer  lor  the  success  of  his  bullet,  and  send  it  on  its  destina 
tion.  Not  long  had  he  to  wait  for  the  critical  moment.  The 
hitherto  motionless  foremost  hump  now  gradually  rose  into  the 
distinct  proportions  of  a  human  head,  and  the  next^  instant 
the  sharp  report  of  the  young  officer's  rifle  rang  through  the 
forest;  while  the  brawny  object  of  its  deadly  aim  was  seen 
leaping  high  into  the  air,  and  then  pitching  heavily  forward 
to  the  earth.  It  was  a  shot  which  none  but  a  marksman 
could  have  made,  and  it  not  only  destroyed  a  dangerous  foe- 
man,  but  was  the  means  of  deciding  the  fortunes  of  the  day  j 
for,  with  the  report  of  the  rifle,  and  the  death  screech  of  its 
victim,  a  dozen  painted  warriors,  alarmed  at  this  unexpected 
attack  on  their  flank,  arid  its  fatal  result  on  one  of  their  lead 
ing  braves,  leaped  quickly  from  their  seemingly  impossible 
concealments  around,  and  in  their  surprise  and  dismay,  stood 


208  THE    DOOMED   CHIEF. 

for  a  minute  looking  confusedly  about  them,  and  exposing 
themselves  as  fair  marks  for  the  fire  of  Mosely's  line,  who  were 
now  drawing  near,  and  who,  but  for  the  timely  shot  of  \Yil- 
lis,  must  have  been,  for  all  their  supposed  vigilance,  very 
soon,  and  to  a  fearful  extent,  perhaps,  fatally  surprised.  And 
the  opportunity  was  not  suffered  to  go  unimproved.  All  of 
that  line  within  sight  poured  in  their  volleys  upon  the  be 
wildered  savages;  and  the  alarm  being  thus  communicated  to 
others,  who  were  lurking  further  within  the  woods,  and  who 
were  started  out  from  their  coverts  in  the  same  manner,  the 
firing  spread  rapidly  along  the  whole  line  of  the  assailants, 
and  ended  only  with  the  last  man  of  the  other  flanking  party 
led  on  by  the  resolute  Xoel.  The  effect  was  instantanenus 
an<i  decisive.  The  Indians,  surprised  at  finding  themselves 
thus  assailed  in  front  and  flank,  and  what  was  equally  unex 
pected,  in  their  own  fashion  of  fighting,  fired  a  few  shots  in 
return,  and  fled  into  the  remote  recesses  of  the  forest. 

Captains  Mosely  and  Willis,  now  seeinjr  the  uselessness  of 
further  pursuit,  called  in  their  men;  when  finding  none  to  be 
missing,  and  but  two  wounded,  and  those  only  very  slightly, 
the  two  companies  marched  back  to  the  garrison,  with  that 
keen  scn^e  of  inward  exultation  which  men  usually  feel,  when 
they  have  done  a  proud  deed  without  the  aid,  and  against  the 
warnings  and  discouragements,  of  those  who  claim  to  be  their 
superiors. 

The  army  at  the  garrison  hou«e,  who,  from  the  alarming 
accounts  brought  in  bv  the  discomfited  little  band  of  troopers, 
had  expected  nothing  less  than  that  the  two  companies  who 
had  gone  in  pursuit  of  the  Indians  into  the  fastnesses  of  the 
woods,  would  be  cut  to  pieces  or  destroyed,  again  became 
brave  and  jubilant,  on  beholding  them  all  returned  in  safety, 
and  especially  so.  when  they  learned  that  the  enemy  had 
been  put  to  flight  and  driven  entire'y  from  the  vicinity. 

"  I  congratulate  you,  Captain   Mosely,"  said  the  general, 


THE    BOLD   PARSON.  207 

coming  forward,  among  the  other  officers,  to  compliment  the 
victors,  "  I  heartily  congratulate  you  on  your  successes.  Your 
escape  from  the  enemy,  with  so  little  da i tinge  to  yourself  arid 
men,  seems  little  less  than  miraculous,  and  would  appear  like 
a  direct  answer  to  the  earnest  prayers  we  put  upj  after  you 
went  forth  into  the  peril,  for  your  safety  and  deliverance." 

"  Your  prayers  were  all  well  enough,  general,  doubtless," 
bluntly  replied  Mosely.  "  But  to  my  notion,  they  would  have 
been  quite  as  likely  to  be  answered,  if  they  had  been  made  on 
the  field  of  battle.  St.  James  says,  faith  without  works  is 
dead.  And  I  ana  free  to  say  I  ani  a  good  deal  of  his  opin 
ion." 

"  The  captain  speaks  plainly,  but  not  without  force,"  inter 
posed  Parson  Miles,  a  patriotic  Baptist  minister,  who  owned 
the  garrison  house,  and  who  had  shown  great  resolution  in 
defending  it  on  the  late  assault  on  the  town.  "  1  cannot  but 
think  that  those  who  would  look  for  blessings  on  their  prayers, 
should  not  themselves  shrink  from  actions  corresponding  to 
their  petitions." 

"  Give  us  your  hand,  friend,"  warmly  responded  Mosely. 
"  You  are  the  parson  for  me.  I  hope  for  your  better  acquain 
tance,  sir." 

The  general,  not  pretending  to  understand  the  rebuke  which 
one  of  the  last  speakers  had  intentionally,  and  the  other  un 
wittingly,  given  him,  made  some  general  remark,  and  retired 
after  notifying  all  the  officers  present,  that  a  council  of  war 
would  be  holden  that  evening,  to  decide  on  a  p'an  of 
operations  fur  the  next  movement  to  be  made  against  the 
enemy. 

Both  the  officers  and  men  of  the  little  army  having  become 
assured,  and  confident  of  future  triumphs,  from  the  successes 
of  the  day,  insignificant  as  the  Indians  themselves,  who 
came  there  only  for  the  purposes  of  e^piona-je  and  intimida 
tion,  probably  considered  them ;  the  council  of  war,  who 


THE   DOOMED    CHIEF. 

convened  that  evening,  unanimously  voted  to  make  a  bold 
pu-h  at  once  directly  into  the  heart  of  King  Philip's  domin 
ions. 

Accordingly,  the  next  morning,  General  Cudworth  mustered 
the  troops,  and.  with  the  exception  of  a  small  force  left  to  man 
the  garrison  house,  put  them  all  immediately  in  motion  for 
Pokanoket,  as  was  then  called  the  whole  of  that  rmiiantic  lit 
tle  peninsula,  which  from  time  immemorial  had  been  con 
sidered  peculiarly  the  seat  of  empire,  and  the  fatherland  of  the 
proud  and  powerful  WampaooogS.  This  sea-girt  territory, 
which,  though  but  little  larger  than  an  ordinary  township, 
now  embraces  a  numerous  and  thriving  population,  including 
its  chief  port,  the  beautiful  village  of  Bristol,  was  then  an  un 
broken  wilderness,  except  the  southern  thousand  acres  which 
the  successive  chiefs  of  the  Wanipanoogs  had  mostly  divested 
of  forest,  and  converted  into  cornfields. 

The  army  in  the  course  of  their  difficult  and  toilsome  march 
through  the  woods,  encountered  many  a  windfall  of  tangled 
trees  lying  upon  the  ground,  and  many  a  dark,  jungly  thicket, 
which  were  all  their  wily  foe  might  have  desired  for  surprises' 
and  ambuscades,  and  which  the  troops  approached  with  no 
small  fear  and  trepidation  But  none  of  their  apprehensions 
were  realized.  No  signs  of  any  ambuscades  were  discovered; 
nor  did  an  enemy,  through  the  whole  of  their  forest  march, 
anywhere  make  his  appearance. 

u  The  whole  Indian  army  must  be  concentrated  around 
Mount  Hope,  the  home  of  their  hell  hound  leader,  the  accursed 
author  of  all  this  mischief,"  remarked  General  Cudworth  to 
Captain  Prentissand  the  other  officers  he  had  exclusively  made 
his  military  counsellors,  as  the  dignified  bevy  were  riding 
alon<r  at  a  safe  distance  from  the  front  of  the  advan 
cing  column.  "  We  shall  be  sure  to  find  them  there,  all  pre 
pared  to  meet  us,  and  full  of  their  heathenish  confidence,  no 
doubt,  that  they  shall  be  able  to  defeat  us." 


ADVANCE    TO    MOUNT    HOPE.  209 

"  Nathless,  they  will  soon  be  taught,  T  trust,"  responded 
Prentiss,  "  the  difference  between  the  power  of  our  God,  and 
their  God,  who,  I  make  no  doubt,  is  no  other  than  Sathan 
himself." 

"  Truly,  captain,"  rejoined  the  former,  "  and  it  is  a  most 
comforting  reflection  to  feel  and  know  that  the  Lord  Omnipo 
tent  is  on  our  side." 

"  Yea,  even  so,  general,"  said  the  warmly  consenting  cap 
tain.  "  And  we  must  not,  for  a  moment,  harbor  a  single  doubt 
or  misgiving,  that  our  arms  will  signally  triumph  in  this 
righteous  war,  which  these  red  sons  of  Belial  have  stirred  up 
against  an  innocent  arid  God-chosen  people.  But  see  !  we  are 
coming  out  into  the  open  country,  and  cannot  now  be  but  a 
mile  or  two  from  the  stronghold  of  the  enemy.  I  must  ride 
to  the  head  of  my  troop  to  be  in  readiness  to  take  my  place 
in  the  line  of  battle." 

The  officers  now  parted  to  repair  to  their  respective  posts  j 
and  the  troops  pushed  forward  with  quickened  steps  and  beat 
ing  hearts,  in  full  expectation  of  emerging  from  the  woods  but 
to  see  a  long  line  of  the  savage  foe  dr;iwn  up  to  dispute  their 
further  passage  to  Mount  Hope,  at  which  their  last  desperate 
stand,  it  was  thought  probable,  would  be  made  round  the  home 
of  their  present  great  leader,  and  the  honored  graves  of  his 
royal  predecessors. 

To  their  agreeable  disappointment,  and  the  great  relief  of 
many  a  trembling  neophyte  of  the  bloody  Mars,  they  beheld, 
on  entering  the  opening,  instead  of  the  anticipated  host  of 
painted  savages  yelling  out  their  rage  and  defiance,  only  broad 
fields  of  green  corn  waving  in  the  breeze,  and  stretching  away 
as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach  in  every  direction,  over  the  roll 
ing  country  that  intervened  between  them  and  the  dreaded 
JMount  Hope,  now  seen  rising  in  the  distance. 

Here  halting  and  forming  in  two  columns,  the  troops  con 
tinued  their  march  through  the  corn  fields,  still  expecting  to 
14 


210  THE    DOOMKD    CHIEF. 

eee  drawn  up  behind  every  swell  or  knoll  they  passed  over,  a 
formidable  array  of  their  foes  read;;  to  greet  their  first  appear 
ance  with  a  storm  of  fire  and  detith.  Swell  after  swell 
succeeded,  however,  as  they  went  trampling  over  the  growing 
maize,  and  yet  no  enemy  WP.S  encountered.  Presently  the 
numerous  wigwams  of  the  royal  village,  spreading  along  the 
green  slopes  of  Montaup,  rose  distinctly  upon  the  view. 
Here,  at  least,  the  enemy  must  be  found;  and,  though  not  a 
wigwam  in  sight  exhibited  any  indications  of  the  presence  of 
either  open  or  concealed  foes,  yet  the  army  was  again  brought 
to  a  halt,  and  carefully  formed  into  un  extended  line  of  battle 
by  the  astute  commander.  The  line  tlien  slowly  advanced  till 
within  two  hundred  yards  of  tl«e  villdge,  when  a  genernl 
charge  was  ordered,  and  the  troops,  with  leveled  and  cocked 
muskets,  made  a  desperate  rush  upon  the  whole  range  of 
wigwams,  which  they  reached  only  to  find  them  every  where 
silent  and  deserted  !  Nothing  being  found  here,  detachments 
of  infantry  and  cavulry  were  then  despatched  to  scour  every 
nook  and  corner  of  the  promontory,  all  round  the  borders  of 
the  water,  from  east  to  west,  in  search  of  concealed  enemies. 
But  they  all  in  a  short  time  returned  with  the  same  story, 
reporting  that  not  an  Indian — young  or  old,  sick  or  well— 
was  to  be  found,  nor  even  the  trace  of  one  any  where  to  be 
detected,  in  all  that  end  of  the  peninsula.  It  seemed  to  have 
been  a  preconcerted  national  exodus,  and  not  an  implement  of 
peace  or  war  was  left  behind  to  indicate  an  intention  of  any 
future  return.  But  the  valorous  general  was  not  to  be  balked 
in  this  manner;  and,  for  lack  of  living  foes  on  which  to 
expend  his  martial  energies,  he  employed  the  troops  for  the" 
remainder  of  the  day  in  beating  down  and  trampling  into  the 
earth  the  growing  corn  of  King  Philip's  extensive  plantation, 
the  whole  thousand  acres  of  which*  before  sun-down,  was 
utterly  ruined  or  destroyed.  The  army  was  then  recalled. 


CONFLICTING    OPINIONS.  211 

ordered    to   take   possession  of  the   deserted   wigwams,  and 
encamp  for  the  night. 

In  the  estimatiou  of  General  Cudworth  and  most  of  his 
officers,  the  Indians,  frightened  by  the  military  array  brought 
into  the  vicinity,  had  scattered  and  fled  into  the  distant 
wilderness,  to  return  no  more — in  short,  that  the  war  was 
now  over.  Others,  however,  were  of  a  different  opinion  ;  and, 
as  a  compromise  between  the  two  parties,  it  was  decided,  at, 
a  general  consultation  the  next  morning,  that  a  small  force 
should  be  left  at  Mount  Hope  to  build  a  fort,  and,  for  the 
present,  hold  the  station,  while  the  rest  should  return  to 
Swiinsey.  Among  those  who  wholly  dissented  from  the 
opinion  of  the  general  and  others  that  the  war  was  over, 
was  Capt;iin  Willis,  who  believed  that  the  war,  instead  of 
being  over,  was  as  yet  but  hardly  begun,  and  that  Philip, 
justly  believing  that  Mount  Hope  would  be  untenable,  had 
crossed  over  to  the  extensive  forests  on  the  east  side  of  the 
bay,  and  was  now  there  concealed  with  all  his  forces  ;  and  he 
petitioned  the  general  for  liberty  to  lead  his  own  company — 
strengthened  by  the  force  proposed  to  be  left  at  Mount  Hope, 
who  could  be  of  no  use  there — round  into  that  part  of  the 
country,  to  ferret  out  and  engage  with  the  enemy.  The 
obstinate  general,  however,  though  at  length  he  reluctantly 
gave  Captain  Willis  permission  to  take  his  own  company  on  a 
scouting  expedition,  would  not  allow  any  other  force  to 
accompany  him.  Thankful  even  for  this  permission,  Willis 
at  once  decided  to  avail  himself  of  it,  and  lost  no  time  in 
making  his  preparation  for  starting  on  the  hazardous  enter 
prise,  whither  it  will  best  suit  the  objects  of  our  story  to 
ascompany  him  and  the  gallant  little  band  of  which  he  was 
the  idolized  leader. 


212  THE  DOOMED  ClliiLF. 


CHAPTER    XII. 

"  They  saw  their  injured  country's  woe» 
The  ruined  homo,  the  wasted  field  ; 
They  rushed  to  meet  the  insulting  foe  ; 
They  took  the  spear,  but  left  the  shield.*' 

"  Gunrds  of  a  nation's  destiny  ! — 
'Tis  yours  to  shield  the  dearest  ties 

That  bind  to  life  the  heart, 
That  mingle  with  the  earliest  breath, 
And  with  the  last  depart." 

PERHAPS  there  is  no  prospect  or  spectacle  on  earth,  that  so 
pleasingly  combines  the  finest  elements  of  the  grand  and  beau 
tiful,  as  a  view  tnken  from  one  of  the  lofty  mountains  rising 
from  our  New  England  landscapes,  which,  lying  spread  out  be 
neath  and  around  the  summit  stand-point,  extend,  mellowing 
away  in  the  dim  distance,  beyond  the  furthest  limits  of  the 
wandering  vision.  This  will  be  found  generally  to  hold  good, 
we  believe,  of  nearly  all  our  high  mountains,  even  as  now 
standing  in  their  interior  locations.  But  had  some  of  their 
most  lofty  and  commanding  peaks  been  situated  on  the  sea 
board,  the  grandeur  of  the  scene  they  might  have  afforded, 
must  have  been  almost  immeasurably  enhanced  ;  while  there 
need  ha*re  been,  when  taken  as  a  whole,  little  or  no  diminu 
tion  of  the  beautiful.  Had  Mount  Washington,  that  out-tow 
ering  giant  among  the  cloud  breaking  elevations  of  the  north, 
stood  beetling  over  the  sea,  at  Cape  Elizabeth,  what  concep 
tion  can  compass  the  magnificence  of  the  scene,  which  its  tre 
mendous  summit  would  have  presented  to  the  entranced  be- 


POCASSET   HILL.  218 

holder,  in  its  beautiful  and  boundless,  variegated  land 
scapes  on  the  one  side,  ai.d  the  smooth  and  tranquil,  or 
rough  and  tumbling  waters  of  the  illimitable  ocean  on  the 
other. 

No  high  mountains,  however,  rise  any  where  in  the  near 
vicinity  of  our  sea-board,  to  afford  us  views  of  such  a  supposa- 
ble  character.  Only  eminences  of  two,  three,  and,  at  the  ut 
most,  we  believe,  four  hundred  feet,  can  anywhere  be  found 
from  one  end  of  our  long  line  of  coast  to  the  other,  situated  so 
near  the  bro;id  ocean,  or  any  of  its  extensive  bays,  as  to  <iive 
us  the  opportunity  to  look  down  and  abroad  upon  its  liquid 
phiins,  in  any  such  sense,  as  we  look  down  and  abroad  from 
the  mountain  peak  upon  the  subjacent  plains  of  a  country 
landscape.  And  even  these  elevations  are  not  only  few  and 
widely  scattered,  but  generally  rise  at  too  great  a  distance 
from  the  outward  line  of  coast,  to  give  us  anything  like  a  clear 
and  uninterrupted  view  of  the  ocean.  But  among  all  those 
eminences  in  our  coast  country,  that  do  afford  such  views, 
there  are  none,  perhaps,  more  favorably  located  for  embracing 
those  extensive  land  and  water  views,  that  combine  the  requi 
sites  of  a  perfect  landscape,  than  Pocasset  Hill,  which  rises 
abruptly  from  that  low  lying  country  around,  to  the  height 
of  three  hundred  and  twenty-three  feet,  and  which,  at  the 
same  time,  is  situated  within  half  a  mile  of  the  great  pastern 
arm  of  Narraganset  Bay,  in  the  northeastern  corner  of 
the  State  of  Rhode  Island,  and  only  about  fifteen  from  a 
long  reach  of  Buzzards  Bay  on  the  east,  and  another  of  the 
open  ocean  on  the  south.  Here  the  eye  of  the  spectator,  as 
he  stands  on  the  summit  of  this  conspicuous  eminence,  wan 
ders  on  the  north  and  west,  over  the  bright  waters  of  the 
broken  ami  fantastically  indented  bay,  and  the  thriving  vil 
lages  seen  glimmering  from  various  points  along  the  serpentine 
coasts,  and  stretching  away  to  the  distant  capital  of  the  state, 
and  even  beyond  to  the  far  off  highlands  of  Massachusetts  and 


214  THE    DCOMEfy   CHIEF. 

Connecticut;  and  all  around  on  the  south  and  cast,  over  ex 
tensive  reaches  of  sombre  forests  and  glittering  lakelets,  with 
the  scores  of  villages  and  hamlets  every  where  variegating  the 
scene,  till  all  the  lessening  objects  of  the  vision  become  blended 
and  lost  in  the  long  light  line  of  the  encircling  ocean. 

On  the  summit  rock  of  that  conspicuous  eminence,  on  the 
second  morning  after  the  fruitless  invasion  of  Mount  Hope, 
described  in  the  last  chapter,  sat  two  men  intently  engaged  in 
scanning  the  various  aspects  of  the  forests,  then  stretching  away 
from  the  hill  on  the  east  to  the  vicinity  of  the  seaboard,  with 
out  break  or  opening,  except  in  the  long  bright  chain  of  the 
Watuppa  ponds,  whose  nearest  points  were  but  two  or  three 
miles  distant.  Both  these  men  were  here  in  the  guise  of  Indian 
dresses  and  native  accoutrements;  and  one  of  them,  the  most 
youthful  and  finely  formed  of  the  two,  had  so  skillfully  met 
amorphosed  himself  by  these,  and  the  application  of  some 
kind  of  coloring  matter  to  all  the  visible  parts  of  his  skin,  that 
it  would  have  required  far  more  than  any  ordinary  closeness 
of  observation  to  have  discovered  him  to  have  been  other 
than  what  his  general  appearance  indicated. 

"  There,  Noel,  I  think  I  have  it  at  last !"  exclaimed  the 
last  named  person,  after  a  long  and  close  inspection  of  a  par 
ticular  locality  in  the  forest  before  him,  which  he  had  selected 
as  the  most  promising  for  the  discoveries  he  was  seeking — 
"  I  think  T  have  hit  upon  the  place  at  last." 

"  Whereaway,  Captain  Willis?"  asked  the  other — "  where- 
away  are  you  detecting  any  indications  of  their  encampment? 
I  have  discovered  nothing  of  the  kind." 

"  I  will  direct  your  eye  to  the  spot  in  question,  Noel.  You 
see  that  long  swell  of  oak  forest  land,  lying  something  like  two 
miles  off,  perhaps,  and  running  north  and  south  about  halfway 
between  this  first  little  appendant  sheet  of  water  down  here  to 
the  southeast,  aud  the  great  South  Wutuppa  pond — do  you?" 


DISCOVERY   OF   INDIAN   CAMP.  215 

"  Yes,  — J  have  now  got  my  eye  on  to  the  spot  you  mean,  I 
suppose." 

•*  Well,  by  comparing  the  peculiar  hue  of  the  atmosphere 
along  the  line  of  the  swell  with  that  of  all  the  surrounding 
localities,  you  can  easily  detect  quite  a  difference  in  the  ap 
pearance — do  you  distinguish  it  now  ?" 

<l  I  think  I  can.  Ay — now  you  have  directed  my  attention 
to  it,  I  do  very  plainly  perceive  the  difference  you  name;  but 
what  is  your  version  of  the  matter  ?" 

"  My  version  is  that  the  peculiar  appearance  of  the  air  all 
along  over  that  swell,  is  but  a  thin,  filmy  cloud  of  smoke, 
which  has  gradually  risen  up  through  the  trees  from  small  in 
numerable  fires,  such  as  would  naturally  be  built  at  an  Indian 
encampment  in  cooking  their  morning  meals.  And  I  will 
venture  to  express  my  unhesitating  belief,  that  Metacom  and 
his  two  thousand  warriors  are  all  encamped  on  that  single  swell 
of  land." 

"  I  think  you  may  be  right,  captain — a  single  fire,  kindled 
by  a  hunting  or  fishing  party,  would,  if  as  large  as  usually 
made,  rise  up  through  the  trees  in  a  distinct  column  ;  at  all 
events,  it  would  not  be  apt  to  diffuse  itself  over  but  a  small 
space;  while  the  smoke  from  numerous  small  fires  scattered 
over  a  space  half  a  mile  in  extent  and  imperceptibly  stealing 
up  through  the  trees  from  a  hundred  different  places,  would, 
probably,  gradually  unite  in  the  air  above,  so  as  to  produce 
the  blue,  hazy  appearance,  which  certainly  docs  hang  over  that 
tract  of  the  woods.  And  if  our  conjectures  are  correct  about 
the  cause  of  this  appearance,  the  place  is  probably  the  camp 
ing  ground  of  the  Wampanoogs,  who  are  doubtless  concen 
trated  somewhere  in  this  vicinity." 

"  Yes,  that  is  my  conclusion  ;  for  Queen  Wetamoo's  tribe 
would  not  be  numerous  enough  to  spread  over  so  large  a  space 
is  I  judge  this  encampment  to  embrace;  besides,  the  princi- 


216  THE    DOOMED    CHIEF. 

pal  seat  of  her   tribe    is  still   a   considerable   distance  to  the 
south  of  us." 

"  Ah  I  does  hor  territory  extend  as  far  north  as  that  south 
ernmost  chain  of  ponds  yonder?" 

"  Just  about,  I  suppose,  but  why  do  you  ask  ?" 
"  Because,  when  you  called  my  attention  in  this  direction, 
I  was  scrutinizing  appearances  in  that  quarter,  and  if  I  am 
not  very  much  mistaken,  I  saw  a  large  number  of  Indian  ca 
noes  lying  along  shore  at  the  extremity  of  that  pond.  Let  us 
examine  what  I  took  to  be  canoes,  a  little  more  particu 
larly." 

They  did  so,  and  were  soon  rewarded  with  an  additional 
discovery.  They  not  only  clearly  made  out  the  objects  pointed 
out  by  Noel  to  be  canoes,  but  soon  saw  a  large  body  of  In 
dians  coming  down  to  the  shore,  a  part  of  whom  took  the 
canoes  and  struck  out  over  the  pond  to  the  north  j  while  the 
main  body,  as  became  evident  by  occasional  glimpses  of  them 
which  were  obtained  as  they  passed  through  open  spaces  ad 
joining  the  water,  moved  rapidly  along  the  eastern  shore  in 
the  same  direction. 

"  I  understand  it  all,"  said  Willis,  turning  away  with  the 
air  of  one  who  deems  the  subject  of  inquiry  fully  settled.  "  I 
understand  the  whole  arrangement  as  well  as  the  red  plotters 
themselves." 

"  Well,  then,  captain,  on  putting  all  these  things  together, 
what  is  the  amount  of  your  conclusions  ?" 

"  It  is  this — that  body  of  Indians  we  have  just  discovered 
passing  on  north,  are  Wetamoo's  four  hundred  warriors,  the 
queen  herself  and  a  small  band  for  her  guard,  being  those  we 
saw  putting  off  in  the  canoes.  They  are  all  on  their  way  to 
King  Philip's  camp,  to  perfect  an  alliance,  and  concert  mea 
sures  for  the  next  series  of  outbreaks.  Such,  at  least,  is  the 
indication  of  their  intentions;  but  the  exact  character  of  the 
meeting,  and  the  plans  of  Philip,  cannot  be  ascertained  except 


A  PROPOSED  PERILOUS  ATTEMPT.          217 


by  skillful  espionage.    All  this  is  most  important  to  be  k 

but  who  will   undertake  to   go  iuto  their   cump  unless  1  do  it 

myself  ?" 

"  Into  the  camp  itself,  Captain  Willis  —  into  the  den  —  nay, 
the  very  jaws  of  the  lion  !  Why,  surely,  you  have  not  been 
meditating  anything  so  daring  as  this  ?  A  reconnoitering 
close  enough  to  obtain  a  pretty  good  idea  of  the  character  and 
numbers  of  the  enemy,  if  we  discovered  their  locality,  I  was 
prepared  for,  but  not  for  this.  Are  you  really  serious  about 
making  such  a  perilous  attempt  ?" 

"  0  yes.  1  thought  when  we  left  our  camp,  that  circum 
stances  might  require  more  of  me  than  an  ordinary  reconnois- 
sance  ;  and  that  was  the  reason  I  was  so  careful  to  perfect  my 
disguise." 

"  But,  why  not  send  one  or  two  of  our  Saconet  scouts  ?" 

"  In  the  first  place,  they  could  not  be  induced  to  venture 
directly  into  the  Wampanoog  camp  j  and  if  they  could,  they 
wouid  not  be  likely  to  obtain  all  the  information  which  I 
want,  and  which  I  have  faith  to  believe  I  can  obtain  by  the 
proposed  visit.  I  can  both  understand  and  speak  their  lan 
guage.  I  can  interpret  their  movements  and  general  appear 
ance,  and  draw  my  own  inferences.  And,  as  my  disgui.-e  is 
complete,  I  shall,  while  running  little  risk  of  detection,  sub 
serve  a  most  important  public  object.  At  all  events,  Noel,  I 
have  made  up  my  mind  to  try  the  experiment/' 

"  Then,  friend  Willis,  we  may  as  well  call  you  a  lost  man. 
Your  courage,  it  seems  to  me,  wholly  outstrips  the  ordinary 
bounds  of  prudence." 

"  You  should  have  move  reliance  on  'an  over-ruling  Provi 
dence,  Noel.  The  enterprise  is  sanctioned  by  its  importance. 
Who  knows  what  bloodshed  and  suffering  may  be  prevented  — 
what  villages  saved  from  destruction  and  what  countless 
families  snatched  from  an  awful  death  —  by  the  timely  disco 
very  of  the  designs  of  a  foe,  who  ever  come  without  warning, 


218  THE   DOOMED    CHIEF. 

and  are  sure  to  fall  on  those  places  where  they  are  least 
expected?  The  motive  which  moves  me  to  prevent,  if 
possible,  calamities  like  these,  will  surely  command  from 
heaven  the  protection  of  my  life." 

"Then,  if  you  will  go,  it  should  be  my  duty  to  go  with 
you — at  least,  into  the  near  vicinity,  to  be  at  hand  to  aid  you 
in  case  of  detection  and  trouble." 

"  No — one  will  run  less  chances  of  detection  than  two,  even 
though  one  of  them  keep  at  a  distance  behind." 

"  What  would  you  have  me  do,  then,  Captain  Willis  ?" 

"  Go  down  to  our  company  on  the  shore ;  and  then,  if  you 
please,  you  may  inarch  them  silently  around  — say,  to  a  point 
about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  west  of  the  south  end  of  this  little 
pond  down  here,  where  we  just  saw  the  Indians  passing.  You 
will  there  be  sufficiently  distant  from  the  trail  not  to  attract 
the  attention  of  any  stragglers  following  after  the  main  body." 

"  It  shall  be  promptly  done,  captain." 

"  Very  well  j  I  will  then  make  to  that  point  for  joining 
you,  after  I  get  fairly  clear  of  Metacom's  camp.  But  let  us 
agree  on  the  exact  location  of  your  halt  for  the  purpose. 
There  !  do  you  notice  that  green  clump  of  pine  trees,  with  a 
tall,  dry  one  shooting  up  in  the  midst,  all  standing  not  far 
from  the  point  I  named  ?" 

"  Yes,  very  distinctly." 

"  Well,  whether  I  am  pursued  or  not,  I  will  make  my  way 
to  that  tree.  Now,  Noel,  keep  up  faith  and  courage,  and 
within  two  hours  expect  to  see  me  at  that  spot.  Good  bye." 

"  Good  bye,  captain — good  bye,  my  friend  Willis.  May 
God  keep  you." 

A  few  words  may  here  be  necessary,  perhaps,  to  fill  the 
apparent  break  between  the  last  and  present  chapters.  After 
Captain  Willis  obtained  permission  to  detach  his  little  band 
from  the  main  army,  which  was  not  to  return  until  the  next 
day,  he  immediately  left  Mount  Hope,  and  made  a  forced 


219 

mareh  back  to  Swansey  that  night,  for  the  purpose  of  supply 
ing  his  company  with  the  food  and  ammunition  necessary  for 
the  projected  expedition  into  the  great  forest  on  the  east  side 
of  the  Narraganset  bay,  in  search  of  King  Philip's  forces, 
whom  he  felt  so  confident  he  should  discover  to  be  there 
concentrated.  And  having  thus  supplied  themselves  the  next 
morning,  and  made  all  other  advisable  preparations  for  the 
enterprise  on  hand,  the  company  struck  across  the  then  but 
partially  cleared  country,  to  a  point  on  Taunton  river  some 
ei^ht  or  ten  miles  from  its  outlet,  passed  over  the  broad  stream 
in  boats  procured  for  the  purpose,  and,  turning  short  to  the 
right,  proceeded  slowly  and  cautiously  down  the  thickly 
wooded  b:mks  on  the  east  side  of  that  wide  spreading  outlet, 
towards  Queen  Weta moo's  dominions,  lying  nearly  opposite  to 
those  of  King  Philip  on  the  opposite  side  of  Mount  Hope 
Bay. 

As  the  way  was  often  extremely  circuitous,  the  extensive 
intervening  swamps  compelling  them  to  make  wide  detours  to 
the  east,  it  was  nearly  sunset  before  they  reached  the  shore, 
of  the  bay,  near  the  western  base  of  the  sightly  eminence, 
with  a  description  of  which  was  accompanied  the  opening 
scene  of  the  present  eventful  chapter.  And  no  signs  beto 
kening  the  vicinage  of  the  enemy  having  been  discovered 
anywhere  above,  Captain  Willis  soon  determined  to  encamp 
at  this  place  for  the  night,  and  make  it  his  head  quarters  for 
the  reconnoissance ;  he  proposed  to  set  on  foot  the  next 
morning,  feeling  very  confident,  from  his  knowledge  of  the 
country,  that  Metacom  and  his  collected  warriors  could  not 
now  be  far  distant. 

Accordingly,  they  cast  about  them  for  a  place  for  encamp 
ment,  which  would  afford  them  the  best  advantages  for  defence 
in  ease  of  an  attack  by  night,  and  soon  were  fortunate  enough 
to  find  one  enclosed  on  three  sides  by  the  overhanging  shelf 
of  an  encircling  ledge  of  rocks,  and  the  water  and  an  almost 


220  THE    DOOMED    CHIEF. 

impenetrable  tangle  of  fallen  trees  on  the  other;  and,  for- 
bearing  to  kindle  any  tell-tale  fires,  they  partook,  each  from 
his  well  stored  pack,  their  evening  meal,  and  lay  down  on 
their  mossy  carpet  for  their  welcome  repose,  which,  happily, 
was  not  disturbed  till  the  bright  morning  sun,  peering  over 
the  eastern  hills,  looked  down  into  the  fastness  of  their 
bivouac,  and  roused  them  from  their  slumbers  to  enter  upon 
the  untried  scenes  of  the  day  before  them. 

Before  deciding  on  any  plan  of  action,  however,  Willis 
decided  on  taking  his  lieutenant  with  him  and  ascending  to 
the  top  of  the  hill,  believing  they  might  there  make  disco- 
veri^s  which  might  decide  the  plan  of  operations  to  be  pur 
sued  ;  when,  on  the  suggestion  of  the  captain,  they  both  ex 
changed  dresses  with  two  of  their  Saconet  scouts,  with 
additional  disguises  on  the  part  of  the  former,  and  set  off  for 
the  summit,  where  we  introduced  them  in  the  new  characters 
they  decided  to  assume  to  favor  the  important  discoveries  they 
were  intent  on  making 

•  Leaving  his  anxious  and  apprehensive  subaltern  to  return 
to  his  company,  on  the  shore  below,  Captain  Willis,  after  the 
pavtinjr  we  have  described,  immediately  set  forth  to  execute 
his  dnring  purpose.  Pie  well  knew  his  personal  safety  must 
necessarily  be  more  or  less  involved  in  the  undertaking.  Yet 
the  public  interest,  he  believed. 'demanded  the  risk  at  his 
hands.  And  this,  he  persuaded  himself,  would  have  alone 
decided  the  question  of  the  bold  attempt,  if  he  had  no  other 
object  in  view. 

But  he  had  another  object  in  view,  which  he  had  not  chosen 
to  reveal,  and  which  WMS  more  potent  in  inciting  him  to  the 
undertaking,  perhaps,  than  he  would  have  been  ready  to  ac- 
knowledge  He  fully  believed  that  his  lost  Madian  was 
somewhere  retained  as  a  captive  among  the  Indians,  and  he 
had  resolved  that  he  would,  in  some  way  or  other,  penetrate 
into  every  Indian  village  or  encampment  in  the  country, 


\V    LLIS    PROCEEDS    TO    RECONNOITRE.  221 

before  he  would  relinquish  his  hope  of  her  recovery.  Armed, 
therefore,  with  this  double  motive,  he  pushed'  on  to  the  exe 
cution  of  hif  purpose  with  a  resolution  which  knew  no  turning, 
and  which  never  for  one  moment  wavered. 

Setting  his  course,  when  he  reached  the  termination  of  the 
eastern  slope  of  the  hill,  so  as  to  keep  clear  of  the  northern 
extremity  of  the  small  pond  before  mentioned,  he  proceeded, 
with  light,  rapid  sleps,  through  the  thick  and  swampy  forest 
for  more  than  a  mile  ',  when,  finding  himself  on  ascending 
ground,  he  paused  to  ascertain  his  position  and  bearings. 

Soon  perceiving,  from  certain  landmarks  he  had  noted  be 
fore  leaving  his  lookout  on  the  hill,  that  he  had  reached  the 
foot  of  the  oak  ridge,  on  the  other  slope  of  which  was  the 
supposed  encampment,  and  believing  it  would  be  safest  to  ap 
proach  it  through  the  thickly  leaved  forest  covering  the  whole 
length  of  the  swell,  he  passed  on  a  half  a  mile  to  the  north, 
and  then,  turning  short  to  the  right,  proceeded  directly  over 
the  rise,  and  soon  found  himself  in  the  leafy  and  thick  under 
growth  of  the  deciduous  forest,  through  which  no  object  was 
but  a  short  distance  discernible.  Here  he  made  a  pause,  and 
called  into  exercise  all  his  senses  to  enable  him  to  form  some 
opinion  of  the  distance  he  might  now  be  from  the  location  ho 
had  marked  as  the  central  point  of  the  hostile  camp.  And 
very  soon  the  low,  confused  sounds  that  reached  his  cars, 
and  the  fresh  smell  of  smoke  that  pervaded  the  forest,  told 
him  that  a  larire  body  of  men  were  collected  at  no  great  dis 
tance  to  the  south  of  him  ;  and  that  he  had  been  very  nearly 
correct  in  the  calculations  he  had  made  respecting  the  loca 
tion  thry  occupied.  Having  made  these  observations,  he 
cautiously  made  his  way  towards  the  place,  stopping  every 
few  rods  to  listen  and  reconnoitre.  After  proceeding  in  this 
manner  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  he  began  to  obtain  occa 
sional  glimpses  of  men  in  motion,  only  a  few  hundred  yards 
in  front  of  him ;  when  knowing  that  he  was  now  in  the  ixa- 


222  THE    DOOMED    CHIEF. 

mediate  vicinity  of  the  enemy,  he  took  a  long  and  careful 
survey  of  the  woods  on  his  right  and  left,  to  ascertain  whether 
there  were  any  outlying  scouts,  or  Indians  strangling  without 
the  limits  of  the  -encampment,  in  that  direction.  But  per 
ceiving  none,  he  cast  about  him  for  some  impervious  thicket,  or 
other  screening  object  further  ahead,  which  would  enable  him 
to  look  into  the  camp  before  he  could  be  seen,  that  he  might 
the  better  judge  whether,  or  in  what  manner,  it  would  be  ex 
pedient  to  enter  it.  And  he  soon  discovered  the  thick  top 
of  a  tree,  which  had  recently  been  blown  by  the  wind  across 
a  knoll,  about  half  way  between  him  and  the  place  where  the 
movements  had  been  perceived.  To  this  leafy  screen  he  now, 
while  continually  throwing  keen,  searching  glances  in  every 
direction  around  him,  silently  and  stealthily  made  Itisway.j 
and  having  gained  it,  he  crawled  under  the  lowest  branches, 
and  then  gradually  rose  to  his  feet ;  when  finding  himself 
effectually  concealed,  he  edged  himself  along  to  a  small  open 
ing  in  the  branches,  and  applied  his  eye  for  the  lonj,  sought 
observation.  The  first  imperfect  glance  disclosed  to  him 
numbers  of  the  enemy  so  unexpectedly  near,  as  to  c^use  him 
hastily  to  withdraw  his  gaze,  lest  some  roving  e^c  among 
them  should  chance  to  meet  his,  and  thus  detect  his  presence. 
The  encampment  lay  directly,  and  in  plain  view  btfore  him, 
reaching,  indeed,  nearly  up  to  the  foot  of  the  narrow  knoll 
on  which  he  was  standing  in  his  fortunately  impervious  con 
cealment.  A  second,  and  now  more  cautiously  made  obser 
vation,  revealed  the  whole  scene,  and  fully  confirmed  all  his 
previous  conjectures  respecting  the  numbers  and  character  of 
the  enemy.  On  an  area  of  less  than  two  acres  of  level  ground, 
from  which  the  undergrowth  had  been  very  recently  cut 
down  and  cleared  away,  were  assembled  all  the  flower  and 
strength  of  the  proud  and  sternly  independent  tribe  of  the 
Wampanoogs,  numbering  not  less  than  two  thousand  brave 
and  able-bodied  warriors,  all  armed  with  guns,  and  wholly 


THE    INDIAN    CAMP.  223 

unencumbered  with  women,  children,  or  infirm  old  men,  who, 
on  their  exodus  from  Mount  Hope,  a  few  days  previous,  liad 
all  been  sent  to  the  villages  of  the  Narragansets  on  the  west 
ern  shore  of  the  great  bay  which  derives  its  name  from  that 
once  powerful  tribe. 

Near  the  centre  of  the  encampment,  in  front  of  a  large 
temporary  wigwam,  stood  the  master  spirit  of  them  all,  the 
princely  Metacom,  arrayed  in  his  best  costume  and  most 
showy  royal  insignia.  He  was  conversing  with  a  group  of 
his  confidential  counselors  and  war  captains,  who  stood  around 
him  reverentially  listening  to  his  remarks,  and  occasionally 
sending  wistful  glances  towards  the  south,  as  if  awaiting  the 
approach  of  visitors  from  that  direction;  while  the  main  body 
of  the  warriors  were  scattered  over  the  whole  grounds,  some 
smoking  their  pipes  near  the  decaying  fires  of  their  respective 
messes,  some  leaning  against  trees,  and  some  passing  slowly 
from  one  group  to  another,  but  all  with  their  arms  at  hand,  and 
maintaining  the  same  expectant  attitude  as  their  great  leader 
and  his  officers,  to  whom  their  eyes  were  frequently  turned, 
and  from  whom  they  were  all  evidently  looking  for  some  pub 
lic  announcement.  With  the  most  intense  interest,  did  oar 
young  hero  scrutinize  every  part  of  the  wild  scene  before  him. 
Impelled  by  the  first  solicitude  of  his  heart,  he  carefully  in 
spected,  one  by  one,  the  light,  unsubstantial  and  open  bough 
structures,  which  had  been  made  to  serve  as  sleeping  tents 
for  the  assembled  Indians,  till  he  at  length  became  fully  satis 
fied  that  no  one  of  them  all  could  contain  a  female  captive,  and 
that,  consequently,  the  object  of  his  secret  anxieties  could  not 
be  in  this  encampment.  But  might  she  not  be  with  the  tribe 
of  Queen  Wetamoo,  whose  expected  approach,  he  judged,  from 
his  discoveries  on  the  hill,  it  must  be,  which  was  now  engros 
sing  the  attention  of  the  red  multitude  before  him?  If  so, 
would  she  not  be  likely  to  be  brought  along  among  the  fe 
male  personal  attendants  of  that  haughty  queen,  as  a  trophy 


224:  THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

whom  she  would  like  to  display  ?  There  was  at  least  a  proba 
bility  in  the  supposition.  And  knowing  there  could  be  no 
exigency  more  favorable  for  diverting  all  attention  IVum  him 
self,  than  the  excitement  and  contusion  which  would  na 
turally  attend  the  ingress  of  Wetamoo  and  her  numerous  train 
into  camp,  he  resolved  to  seize  on  the  occasion  to  put  his  da 
ring  project  in  execution.  This  point  being  settled,  and  the 
manner  of  his  consequent  procedure  being  arranged  in  his 
mind,  'he  patiently  awaited  the  advent  of  the  approaching 
company.  His  suspense,  however,  was  of  short  duration.  A 
great  shout  rose  from  the  woods,  a  short  distance  to  the  south, 
modulated  to  that  pecu.iar  tone  by  which  the  Indians  usually 
announce  their  approach  when  drawing  near  their  destination 
on  visits  of  peace  and  friendship.  The  shout  of  the  advancing 
warriors  was  instantly  returned  by  a  loud  and  hearty  accla 
mation  of  welcome  on  the  part  of  the  gratified  Metacom  and 
his  warmly  sympathizing  Wampanoogs,  who  all  immediately 
hurried  forward  from  all  parts  of  the  encampment  to  array 
themselves  in  lines  on  each  side  of  their  great  chieftain  to 
witness,  or  participate  in  the  ceremonies  of  the  reception.  A 
single  glance  at  these  movements,  told  the  adventurous  young 
officer,  that  the  critical  movement  for  making  his  meditated 
attempt  to  mingle  unnoticed  in  the  crowd,  had  arrived.  Ac 
cordingly  he  noisele.-sly  backed  cut  from  his  tree  top  screen, 
glided  round  it  into  open  view,  and  with  his  rifle  in  hand, 
and  with  an  air  of  perfect  unconcern  about  every  thing,  except 
the  objects  which  were  causing  the  common  rush,  hastened 
forward  a  little  in  the  rear  of  the  last  of  the  incoming  warriors, 
and  was  soon  jostling  and  jostled  about  in  the  thickest  of  the 
changing  volumes  of  the  eager  crowd,  who  had  no  eyes  for 
any  thing  but  for  the  sight  of  their  distinguished  royal  visi 
tant  and  her  warrior  train,  then  seen  just  emerging  from  the 
thick  forest  below  into  the  more  opon  grounds  of  the  encamp 
ment.  First  came  the  stately  and  beautiful  Queen,  maguifi- 


QUEEN    WETAMOO   AND    HER   FOLLOWERS.  225 

cently  attired,  but  in  a  manner  which  she  evidently  designed 
to  be  emblematical  of  the  character  she  intended  to  sustain  in 
the  pending  conflict, — that  of  the  woman  and  the  warrior  uni 
ted  in  her  own  person.  Next,  and  immediately  behind  her, 
marched  the  small,  grave-looking  band  of  her  chosen  counsel 
ors,  and  then,  in  two  separate  columns,  the  far  extending 
Hues  of  her  swarthy  warriors. 

After  advancing  within  the  limits  of  a  dozen  paces  from  the 
spot  occupied  by  Metacom  and  his  counselors,  she  paused, 
and,  without  uttering  a  word,  turned  to  her  followers,  and 
first  waved  her  hand  to  her  counselors  to  take  their  places  at 
her  side,  and  then  to  her  warriors  to  come  forward  and  form 
themselves  into  lines  on  the  right  and  left,  corresponding  with 
those  of  the  opposite  party.  Having  seen  all  her  forces  thus 
properly  arranged,  she  turned  round,  advanced  a  step  and 
confronting  her  royal  host,  stood  silently  awaiting  the  salu 
tation  which  their  etiquette  required  he  should  be  the  first  to 
offer. 

"  Queen  Wetamoo,"  at  length  rang  out  the  trumpet  voice 
of  the  chieftain  host,  breaking  the  profound  silence  which  for 
the  last  full  minute  had  pervaded  the  confronting  ranks. 
"  Queen  Wetamoo,  thou,  whose  woman  form  holds  the  soul 
of  the  great  warrior,  we  kindly  greet  thee,  and  bid  thee  and 
all  thy  braves  a  warm  welcome  to  our  encampment." 

"Noble  Metacom  !"  responded  the  other,  with  queenly  dig 
nity,  "  thy  words  please  us  well.  Thy  greeting  is  warm,  but 
only  such  as  our  friendship  deserves  at  thy  hands.  We  are 
glad  to  find  it  so ;  for  we  come  to  offer  thee  the  words  of  peace 
and  good  will  j  and  we  hope  the  chain  that  shall  unite  our 
people  will  never  grow  dim  by  the  motli  of  jealousy,  or  the  rusfc 
of  age  My  noble  brother's  words  are  good — may  the  words  of 
Wetamoo  be  as  pleasing." 

"  But  our  queenly  sister  is  wise,"  rejoined  the  chief,  with 

a  kind  but  searching  look.     "  She  knows  there  is  a  friendship 
15 


226  THE   DOOMED    CHIEF. 

of  words,  and  a  friendship  of  deeds.  The  friendship  of  words 
is  very  pleasant,  and,  when  there  are  no  dark  clouds  in  the 
sky,  may  answer  a  good  purpose  ;  but  when  the  angry  storm 
cloud  hangs  over  us,  we  are  not  satisfied  with  smooth  words  ; 
we  want  the  friendship  of  deeds." 

"  Does  Metacom  suppose,"  replied  the  former,  almost  indig 
nantly,  "  that  "VVetamoo  would,  at  a  time  like  this,  offer  any 
other  than  a  friendship  which  is  meant  to  show  itself  in  deeds  ? 
Does  he  not  know  how  the  fawn  was  turned  to  the  panther  by 
that  one  terrible  wrong  of  the  pale  faces,  which  took  from  him 
a  noble  brother — from  her  a  loving  husband  ?  Can  he  remem 
ber  his  own  wrongs,  and  believe  she  has  forgotten  hers  ?  C;m 
he  have  heard  the  cry  of  mortal  anguish  which  then  burst 
from  her  crushed  heart,  and  believe  that  the  never  dying  curse 
will  not  always  ring  out  from  the  iron  into  which  the  foul 
deed,  from  that  black  day,  turned  it?  Does  Wefamoo  ever 
lie  down  at  night,  or  rise  in  the  morning  without  thinking  of 
this?  Does  she  ever  have  a  dream  which  does  not  shape  it 
self  into  a  bitter  curse  on  the  white  man  ?  Would  she  suffer 
herself  to  live  a  single  day,  but  for  the  hope  of  seeing  her 
wrongs  avenged  ?" 

"  The  heart  of  Metacom  beats  to  the  words  of  his  wronged, 
but  still  strong  hearted  sister/'  replied  the  chief  with  an  air 
of  mingled  sadness  and  indignation.  "  He  remembers  all  her 
wrongs,  and  joins  them  with  his  own,  as  things  laid  up  for  the 
day  of  the  terrible  atonement.  He  enters  into  all  her  feel 
ings.  He  knows  her  thoughts  j  and  he  well  knows,  also,  how 
she,  of  herself,  would  gladly  act  at  this  great  turning  point  of 
the  red  man's  destiny.  But  he  does  not  yet  know  what  her 
counselors  and  warriors  would  do.  They  have  suffered 
wrongs,  but  no  such  wrongs  as  Metacom  and  Wetamoo;  and 
they  may  not  see  that  the  wasting  thunders  which  the  pale 
faces  are  everywhere  preparing,  are  as  much  intended  for 
them  as  the  more  hated  Wampanoogs.  They  may  not  be  tho 


THE   RED    HATCHET.  227 

first  the  whites  have  marked  to  die,  or  be  driven  from  their 
hunting  grounds  and  the  graves  of  their  fathers  ;  but  their 
day  of  trouble  will  come  next,  and  their  destruction  be  the 
more  certain,  because,  having  neglected  the  only  opportunity 
they  could  ever  have  of  joining  their  red  brethren  in  rolling 
back  the  thunder  on  the  heads  of  the  destroyers  themselves, 
till  all  perish,  they  will  then  have  none  to  stand  between  them 
and  the  storm  of  death  come  to  sweep  them  from  the  land. 
These  are  the  words  of  truth,  but  they  may  not  see  it  so." 

"  They  do  see  it  so,  noble  Metacom  !"  exclaimed  the  excited 
Wetamoo.  "  They  know  the  words  of  Metacom  to  be  the 
words  of  wisdom  and  truth.  They,  too,  have  their  wrongs 
and  insults  to  remember  and  avenge.  They  see  wh;it  fate  is 
intended  for  all  the  red  men  ;  and  they  will  not  refuse  to  help 
the  Wampanoog  roll  back  the  thunder  till  the  destroyers  shall 
themselves  find  the  fate  they  are  intending  for  others.  They 
know  it  all — they  see  it,  they  feel  it  with  their  queen.  Then, 
try  them,  Metacom,  and  see  if  they  make  no  sign  of  their  will 
for  the  right  action." 

"It  is  the  favoring  moment!  It  shall  be  done,"  said  Meta 
com  in  a  tone  so  low  that  none  but  those  immediately  around 
him  could  hear  the  words,  as  he  drew  the  blood  red  symbol 
hatchet  from  under  his  broad  wampum  belt,  and  advancing 
and  waving  it  on  hitrh  in  sight  of  both  armies,  threw  it  down 
at  the  feet  of  Wetamoo. 

The  eyes  of  the  warrior  beauty  sparkled  with  savage  delight 
as  she  witnessed  the  significant  deed,  but  without  offering  to 
touch  the  implement  lying  before  her,  or  to  give  the  least  utter 
ance  to  .her  laboring  emotions,  she  turned  to  her  counselors  and 
bent  on  them  an  anxious  and  imploring  look,  more  eloquent 
than  words,  of  her  wish  for  their  approbation,  before  she  took 
the  responsibility  of  performing  the  solemn  nnd  binding  act, 
to  which  she  and  her  tribe  had  been  thus  officially  challenged 
by  the  great  warrior  of  the  Wampanoogs.  And  her  coun- 


228  THE   DOOMED    CHIEF. 

tenance  soon  broke  into  a  grateful  smile  at  the  kindly  looks 
and  visible  expressions  of  approval,  with  which  these  grave 
men  met  her  enquiring  glances.  She  then  raising  herself  to 
her  full  height,  spread  out  her  suppliant  hands  to  the  whole 
mass  of  her  assembled  warriors,  who  fully  comprehending  the 
purport  of  the  mute  appeal,  and  being  deeply  stirred  at  what 
they  had  already  heard  and  witnessed,  instantly  responded  in 
an  universal  burst  of  all  the  varying  tones  and  expressions  of 
encouragement  and  applause.  Scarcely  waiting  till  this  wel 
come  demonstration  had  died  on  her  ears,  she  turned,  and, 
with  trembling  haste,  seized  on  the  typical  hatchet,  eagerly 
kissed  the  red  blade,  and  then  raising  it  on  high,  fiercely 
•waved  it  over  her  head  towards  her  admiring  warriors,  who 
sent  up  a  hearty  shout  in  ratification  of  the  war-league  involved 
in  the  symbolic,  but,  in  their  eyes,  the  no  less  sacredly  bind 
ing  performance.  And  the  next  moment  the  startled  wilder 
ness  shook  with  the  wildly  responding  acclamations  of  the 
delighted  Wampanoogs. 

"  It  is  well !"  exclaimed  Metacom  glancing  along  the  serried 
lines  of  the  now  confederated  warriors,  with  a  look  of  intense 
gratification — "  it  is  well  !  it  is  enough  !" 

"  It  is  well ;  but  it  is  720^  enough  !"  quickly  responded  the 
ardent  Wetamoo,  proudly  advancing  to  the  other  with  looks 
beaming  with  high  resolve — "  No,  it  is  not  enough,  brave 
Metacom.  We  feel — all  our  united  warriors  feel,  to  day,  that 
none  will  turn  back  or  grow  faint  while  a  pale  face  lives  to 
wrong  us.  Let  us  swear  that  the  feeling  of  to-day  shall  be 
the  feeling  of  to-morrow,  and  forever.  Fur  ourselves  and  our 
tribes,  in  the  presence  of  the  avenging  spirits  hovering  over 
us,  let  us  swear  it,  Metacom,  let  us  swear  it  V 

Metacom — even  the  lion-hearted  Metacom — could  not  but 
hesitate  at  the  thought  of  taking  the  unalterable  oath  of 
devoting  himself,  without  reserve,  to  the  desperate  purpose  he 
saw  involved  in  the  bold  proposition  of  the  relentless 


NEWS  OF  THE  DEVASTATION  AT  MONTAUP. 

which  was  no  less  than  that  of  entering  on  a  war  of  extermi 
nation  with  the  united  colonies  of  New  England.  Although, 
in  brooding  over  his  wrongs,  he  had  often  secretly  made 
resolutions  to  the  same  effect,  and  always  foreseen  that  the 
war,  when  once  begun,  would  probably  never  cease  short  of 
the  entire  overthrow  of  either  one  or  the  other  of  the  bellige 
rent  parties,  yet  he  too  well  knew  and  appreciated  the  means 
and  power  of  the  colonists  not  to  make  him  pause  and  tremble 
in  view  of  the  tearful  issue,  and  consequently  to  hesitate  to 
make  the  irrevocable  declaration  in  presence  of  the  assembled 
warriors,  and  under  the  sanction  of  the  awful  invocation  which 
had  been  proposed. 

But  every  doubt  and  shadow  of  hesitancy,  which,  for  the 
moment,  might  have  caused  the  far-seeing  chieftain  to  pause 
before  this  Rubicon  of  his  fate,  was  destined  to  be  banished 
forever  from  his  mind  by  the  unexpected  incident  that  now 
suddenly  occurred  to  interrupt  the  proceedings.  Two  of  the 
Wampanoog  scouts,  who  had  hovered  along  the  skirts  of  the 
English  forces  invading  Mount  Hope,  witnessed  from  their 
distant  coverts  all  that  had  transpired  there,  and  remained  till 
they  saw  the  main  body  of  their  troops  far  on  their  way  back 
to  Swansey,  now  rushed  wildly  into  camp,  and  announced  the 
devastation  of  all  the  beautiful  corn  fields  of  their  chief  by 
the  white  men,  who  had  been  there  in  great  numbers  with  no 
other  visible  object.  The  news  fell  with  terrible  effect  on 
the  mind  of  Metacom,  who  at  once  saw  in  the  destruction  of 
his  growing  crops,  on  which  he  was  depending  for  the  winter 
supplies  of  his  army,  the  extent  of  the  calamity  that  had  thus 
befel  them.  By  the  entire  evacuation  of  his  tribe  of  the 
peninsula  of  Montaup,  he  supposed  he  had  removed  all  the 
object  his  foes  could  have  in  invading  the  place ;  and  even  if 
a  few  should  come  there,  he  never  dreamed  they  would  think 
of  wreaking  their  vengeance  in  the  wanton  destruction  of  his 
growing  crops.  But  the  destruction  of  his  property  was  not 


230  THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

all  he  belield  in  the  deed  :  he  read  in  it  the  determination  of 
the  whites  to  cease  hostilities  only  with  the  extinction  of  his 
people.  And  the  deed  and  the  inference  were  abundantly 
sufficient  to  bring  him  to  an  instant  decision. 

"  Warriors  !"  exclaimed  the  exasperated  chief,  in  a  voice  so 
loud  and  determined  that  even  his  own  followers  were  startled 
at  the  sound,  while  he  hastily  motioned  the  ready  Wetamoo  to 
his  side — "Warriors,  all! — not  only  the  braves  of  our  own 
tribe,  but  those,  too,  who,  with  their  warrior  queen,  have  so 
nobly  joined  us  this  day  in  the  wampum  league  of  war — open 
wide  your  ears;  listen  to  the  words  of  Metacom  and  Wetamoo. 
The  mountain  of  injuries  which  the  white  robbers  of  our  lands 
have  for  years  been  heaping  on  our  heads,  you  have  heard  of 
before.  Yesterday  you  heard  how  many  of  our  braves  they 
had  killed  at  Swansey;  to-day,  you  hear  how  they  have  tram 
pled  down  every  acre  of  our  beautiful  corn  fields  at  Montaup. 
Now,  listen,  warriors  !  For  every  one  of  the  braves  they 
have  slain,  a  dozen  white  scalps  shall  be  seen  dangling  in  our 
wigwams  !  For  every  acre  of  corn  they  have  destroyed,  a 
dozen  houses  of  the  white  men  shall  be  seen  blazing  from  the 
torches  of  our  braves!  The  words  'peace  and  friendship' 
with  the  double-tongued  destroyers  of  our  rights  and  property, 
are  never,  from  this  hour,  to  pass  our  own  lips  or  be  breathed 
in  our  presence;  but  in  havoc  and  blood  we  will  pursue  them 
over  the  whole  land,  making  their  days  busy  in  burying  the 
dead  carcases  we  have  left  on  our  battle  fields,  and  their  nights 
light  from  the  fires  of  their  burning  towns  and  villages  !  By 
the  Great  Mariitou,  we  swear  it !  These  are  the  words  of 
Metacom  and  Wetamoo.  They  are  things  that  are  not  to  be 
changed  or  ever  taken  back.  The  Great  Spirit  has  heard 
them,  and  will  guide  his  red  children  on  the  war  path. 
Have  all  our  warriors  also  heard  them,  to  approve  and  re 
member?" 

The  united  war-cry  w)  ich  now  wildly  burst  from  the  lips 


METACOM'S  DETERMINATION.  231 

of  more  than  two  thousand  half-phrenzied  warriors,  mingled 
with  the  sounds  of  their  fiercely  clashing  kuives  and  toma 
hawks,  was  their  terribly  significant  response  to  the  dread 
appeal  of  their  now  oath-bound  and  desperate  chieftain. 

"  It  is  well — it  is  good  !"  exclaimed  the  chief  with  an  ef 
fort  to  appear  calm  under  the  fierce  delight  with  which  he 
had  so  evidently  witnessed  the  welcome  demonstration.  "It 
is  very  well.  The  war  whoop  of  the  wronged  red  man  is  mu 
sic  to  the  red  man's  god.  It  is  settled.  The  Great  Spirit 
told  me  in  a  vision  that  if  the  red  men  willed  it,  the  red  men 
should  conquer.  The  red  men  have  now  willed  it,  and  the 
promise  will  not  fail.  I  see  it  all  now  coming  up  in  the  fu 
ture.  The  pale  faces  fade  away.  The  red  men  remain  to 
guard  the  bones  of  their  fathers,  and  enjoy  the  land  their  fa 
thers  gave  them.  Warriors,  I  have  done.  Go  now  to  kindle 
your  fires  and  prepare  the  great  war-feast,  which  deserves  to 
crown  the  great  doings  of  the  day.  With  to-morrow's  sun 
your  dividing  bands  shall  be  put  on  their  war-paths." 

It  would  be  difficult  to  analyze  the  mingling  emotions  of 
surprise,  alarm,  and  horror,  with  which  our  disguised  hero 
had  witnessed  from  his  place  in  the  hostile  but  unobservant 
crowd,  the  scene  we  have  just  described.  He  had,  it  was 
true,  made  no  discoveries  leading  to  the  remotest  clue  to  the 
mystery  which  engrossed  so  many  of  his  secret  thoughts  j  but 
of  the  strength  of  the  enemy,  their  desperate  resolution,  and 
the  plans,  resources,  and  sagacity  of  their  great  leader,  he  felt 
he  had  learned  more  in  that  one  hour,  than  months  of  bitter 
experience  might  have  taught  him.  So  absorbed  had  he  be 
come,  indeed,  by  the  thoughts  to  which  the  unmistakable 
significance  of  much  he  saw  and  heard,  gave  rise,  that  he  al 
most  ceased  to  realize  the  perils  which  he  knew  attended  his 
situation  in  the  midst  of  an  exasperated  foe,  and  forgot  his 
resolution  to  withdraw  himself  before  the  ceremonies  should 
close,  till  recalled  to  it  by  the  c  :>sing  words  of  the  chief,  and 


232  THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

the  instant  breaking  away  of  the  crowd  that  followed.  Trust 
ing,  however,  to  his  own  fertility  of  expedients,  in  case  lie 
should  have  occasion  to  use  them  to  ensure  his  escape,  he 
borrowed  no  trouble,  but  hurried  along,  with  his  well  assumed 
air  of  stoical  indifference,  with  those  moving  in  the  same  di 
rection,  till  he  had  nearly  gained  the  end  of  the  encampment 
at  which  he  had  so  unsuspectedly  entered.  Here  he  paused, 
and  sent  a  quick,  searching  glance  around  him.  Perceiving 
that  all  the  Indians  who  took  the  same  course  with  himself,  on 
the  scattering  of  the  crowd,  had  all  stopped  or  turned  aside, 
and  had  begun  to  busy  themselves  in  collecting  fuel  or  building 
fires,  he  passed  carelessly  on,  and  cheered  by  the  thought  that 
one  moment  more  would  place  him  beyond  the  danger  of  de 
tection,  was  on  the  point  of  entering  the  protecting  coverts 
of  the  leafy  undergrowth,  when,  to  his  no  small  disquietude, 
he  encountered  a  Wanapanoog  warrior,  who  was  returning 
from  some  near  point  in  the  woods,  whither,  it  seemed,  he  had 
proceeded  unnoticed  before  the  assemblage  had  dispersed. 
The  Indian,  however,  did  not  appear  to  act  as  if  he  supposed 
there  was  anything  noteworthy  in  the  encounter,  and  sheering 
a  little,  continued  listlessly  to  advance.  But  his  eye  happen 
ing  to  fall  on  the  muzzle  of  our  hero's  rifle  as  he  was  passing, 
he  stopped  short,  and  after  pausing  a  moment,  with  a  sort  of 
puzzled,  enquiring  expression,  looked  up  and  said — 

"That  Metacom  gun,  sure.  How  you  have  him  here  ?" 
Willis  instantly  perceived  both  his  error  and  his  danger — 
his  error  in  so  thoughtlessly  appearing  here  with  a  gun,  the 
like  of  which,  he  knew,  was  nowhere  to  be  found  in  the  country, 
except  in  the  possession  of  King  Philip,  and  consequently  his 
imminent  danger  of  being  thereby  detected.  His  hand,  which 
he  had  purposely  kept  thrust  within  his  dress,  was  grasping  the 
handle  of  the  murderous  knife  that  hung  there  coru-caled. 
But  hoping  to  be  spared  the  necessity  of  using  it,  since  the 
worst  suspicion  of  his  unwelcome  interrogator,  as  yet  proba- 


SUSPICIOUS   INDIAN.  283 

blv  involved  only  the  theft  of  the  gun,  nnd  knowing  that 
everything  miiiht  depend  on  his  reply  and  manner  at  this 
critical  moment,  he  affected  at  first  an  air  of  slight  surprise, 
and  then  bestowing  a  sort  of  boastful  look  on  his  gun,  care 
lessly  said — 

"  Then  you  no  hear  about  it — gun  mine — bought  it  of  pray- 
ing  Indian  come  from  Boston." 

"  Uiih  !"  exclaimed  the  doubtful  Wampanoog,  bending  on 
the  down  cast  and  well  schooled  face  of  the  other,  a  look  of 
deep,  though  still  not  very  well  defined  suspicion.  "No  be 
lieve — go  see,"  he  added,  hesitating,  but  finally  moving  off 
towards  the  chief,  to  ascertain  the  truth  of  the  doubted  as 
sertion. 

Willis  could  almost  feel  the  burning  gaze,  with  which  he 
knew  the  Indian  was  regarding  him,  but  without  venturing 
to  return  it,  or  make  any  reply,  he  faced  about,  and  with  an 
indifferent,  swaggering  manner,  stood  as  if  waiting  to  hear  the 
result  of  the  threatened  inquiry.  But  not  long  was  he  con 
tent  to  remain  in  this  attitude.  Believing  the  Wampanoog, 
whose  suspicions  had  been  dangerously  aroused,  would  return 
for  a  further  scrutiny,  which  would  probably  result  in  the 
still  more  certainly  fatal  measure  of  being  compelled  to  confront 
the  eagle  eyed  chief  himself,  he  instantly  resolved  to  run  the 
risk  of  a  precipitate  flight  rather  than  remain  to  undergo  such 
a  hopeless  ordeal. 

Waiting  no  longer,  therefore,  than  to  see  a  few  intervening 
trees  placed  between  him  and  the  receding  Indian,  he  cau 
tiously  edged  himself  along  into  the  bushes,  glided  rapidly 
round  to  the  rear  of  the  thick  tree  top,  which  had  before  so 
effectually  screened  him,  and  then  bounded  forward,  in  the 
same  direction,  thirty  or  forty  rods  into  the  forest  without 
stopping  to  listen,  or  look  behind  him.  Here  throwing  him 
self  behind  a  large  tree,  standing  on  a  small  rise,  he  paused 


234  THE  DOOMED  CHIEF. 

to  take  breath,  and  listen  for  any  sounds  which  might  reach 
him  from  the  scene  he  had  just  left;  hardly  expecting,  how 
ever,  that  in  the  two  or  three  minutes  that  only  could  have 
elapsed  since  he  lost  sight  of  the  suspecting  Wampanoog,  that 
his  story,  whatever  it  might  have  been,  could  have  possibly 
been  communicated  and  understood,  so  that  any  alarm  should 
as  yet  be  thus  created. 

But  he  was  not  long  in  discovering  his  mistake,  or  in  being 
convinced  that  his  escape  had  not  been  one  moment  too  soon 
effected.  A  confused  murmur  of  excited  voices,  in  the  direc 
tion  of  the  camp,  quickly  apprised  him,  that  his  foes  were  in 
commotion  •  and  almost  at  the  same  instant,  a  low,  sharp  yell 
of  exultation,  evidently  rising  near  the  spot  where  he  entered 
the  thick  woods,  saluted  his  startled  ears,  plainly  telling  him 
that  a  band  of  pursuers  had  already  discovered  and  entered 
on  his  trail. 

Protruding  his  head  for  a  last  glance,  before  leaving  his 
stand,  his  eyes  were  suddenly  greeted  with  a  stream  of  smoke 
fiercely  darting  out  from  a  thicket,  about  half  way  between 
him  and  the  supposed  locality  of  his  pursuers,  and  with  the 
instantly  succeeding  report  of  a  musket,  he  became  sensible 
that  a  bullet  was  grazing  the  tree  and  passing  between  his 
chin  and  his  breast.  Quickly  throwing  himself  at  the  roots 
of  the  tree,  so  that  no  further  glimpse  or  shadow  of  his  person 
could  be  obtained,  he  paused  a  moment  for  thought.  He 
judged,  and  rightly  too,  that  the  shot  came  from  the  Indian 
he  had  encountered,  who,  after  sounding  the  alarm,  had  run 
ahead  in  pursuit,  and  judged  rightly,  also,  that  this  Indian, 
after  firing,  would  not  approach  any  nearer,  for  fear  of  a  re 
turn  shot,  till  his  companions  should  come  up.  And 
having  settled  this  in  his  mind,  he  rapidly  crept  away 
from  the  screening  tree,  a  few  rods  into  the  thickest  part  of 
the  woods  in  view,  ros)  to  his  feet,  and  turning  a  sharp  angle 


OP  WILLIS.  255 

to  the  south,  and  pitching  his  course  towards  the  place  whero 
his  company  were  stationed,  made  his  way  through  the 
tangled  forest  with  a  speed  which  was  quickened  every  fur 
long  of  his  progress  by  the  fierce  yells  of  his  evidently 
fast  accumulating  foes  in  hot  pursuit,  but  a  short  distance 
behind  him. 


23G 


THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 


CHAPTER   XIII. 

"The  sounds  of  mingled  laugh,  and  shout,  and  scream, 
To  freeze  the  blood,  in  one  discordant  jar, 
Bung  to  the  peeling  thunderbolts  of  war, 
Whoop  after  whoop  with  rack  the  ear  assail'd  ; 
As  if  unearthly  fiends  hsid  burst  their  bar; 
While  rupidly  the  marksman's  shot  prevail'd, 
And  aye,  as  uiark'd  for  death,  some  stricken  warrior  wailed." 

FOR  nearly  two  hours,  after  they  reached  the  foot  of  the 
tall  dry  pine  before  designated  as  the  appointed  rendezvous, 
h;id  Noel  and  his  companions  in  arms  anxiously  awaited  the 
return  of  their  adventurous  leader.  And  as  the  slow  minutes 
passed  away,  and  he  did  not  make  his  appearance  within  the 
time  he  had  specified  for  so  doing,  their  anxiety  began  to  rise 
to  feelings  of  lively  apprehension  for  his  personal  safety.  Noel, 
from  knowing  better  than  the  rest,  perhaps,  the  exactness 
with  which  his  superior  was  accustomed  to  keep  his  appoint 
ments,  became  particularly  uneasy  ;  and  having  agreed  with 
his  men  on  a  signal  for  his  recall,  if  any  thing  suddenly  oc 
curred  to  require  it,  he  left  the  spot  and  went  down  to  the 
borders  of  the  pond  as  a  more  favorable  plaoe  for  distant  viewa 
and  for  detecting  distant  sounds,  which  might  reach  his  ear 
over  the  level  of  the  \vater,  indicating  the  approach  of  the 
enemy,  or  any  commotion  there  minht  have  been  created  in 
their  camp.  Here,  after  running  his  eye  round  the  borders 
of  the  pond  and  seeing  nothing  suspicious,  he  lay  down  on  the 
edge  of  the  water,  and  brought  his  ear  near  to  the  motionless 
surface,  knowing  from  previous  observations,  that  any  weak 


ANXIOUS    EXPECTATION.  237 

or  confused  noise,  at  least,  is  wafted  to  the  ear  over  a  Fmootli 
surface  of  water  mure  than  double  the  distance1  at  which  it 
could  be  heard  on  land,  and  especially  a  forest  covered   land, 
where  such  masses  of  objects  continuously  intervene  to  disturb 
and  break  up  the  undulations  of  sound.      Here,  for  som>  time 
not  the  slightest  murmur  of  a  sound  became  perceptible  to  his 
strained  senses.      Soon,  however,  some  distant  uoi.se,  as  if  of  a 
sudden  outbreak  of  human   voices,  came  wafting  in   the   dis 
turbed  air  from  the  quarter  to  which  his  attention  was   direc 
ted.     And,  in  a  minute  more,  a  similar,  but  much  louder  sound 
came  so  distinctly  to  his  ear,  that  he  could  no  longer  doubt, 
that  it  was  some  uproarious  shouting  of  a  numerous  assemblage 
of  men;   while  that  peculiar  shrillness  of  the   mingling  tunes, 
which  so  remarkably  distinguish  the  voices  of  the  American 
aboriginals,  from  those  of  the  European  people,  in  all  cases  of 
loud  outcry,  at  once  convinced   the    listener   that   the    noise 
must  have  proceeded  from  the  camp  of  the  enemy,  who  per 
haps  had  sent  up  that  fierce  shout  as  one  of  exultation  on  de 
tecting  and  seizing  the  spy,  who  had  so  boldly  ventured  among 
them.     A  boding  chill  ran  over  the  feelings  of  Noel  ;  and 
almost  despairing  for  the  fate  of  his  friend,  he  rose  to  his  feet, 
again  sent    a    searching  g;ize  round   the   borders  of  the  pond, 
and  then  ajrain  fell  to  listening;   when    the  report  of  a   gun, 
rising  as  he  thought  very  near,  but  a  little  to  the   west  of  the 
other  sounds,  came  pealing   through  the  forest.     There  was 
yet  hope,  he  thought;  for  a  gun  would  not  have  been  likely  to 
be  fired  under  the  circumstances,  except  at  an   escaping  fugi 
tive.      And  if  Captain  Willis  was  that  fugitive,  as  he  suspected, 
and  had  not  been  brought  down  by  the  shot,  his  chance  of  an 
escape  was  by  no  means  a  foregone  conclusion  for  one  so  well 
known  for  his  fleetness,  especially  in   the  forest.      With   this 
view  of  the  case,  Noel  instantly  hastened  back  to  his  men,  and 
having  stated  to  them  his  suspicions,  and  the  reasons  he   had 
for  entertaining  them  took  two  of  his  most  reliable  men,  leav- 


238  THE    DOOMED    CIIIKJ. 

ing  the  rest  to  follow  on  a  given  signal,  and  made  his  way 
rapidly  through  the  forest,  in  the  direction  in  which  ho 
thought  his  friend  would  be  most  likely  to  come,  that,  in  case 
of  a  pursuit,  he  might  aid  in  a  rescue.  After  proceeding 
about  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  in  this  manner,  with  hi*  two  men 
keeping  pace  with  him,  at  short  distance  on  his  right  and 
left,  he  gave  the  signal  for  a  momentary  halt,  with  the  view 
of  listening  and  reconnoitering  for  indications  betokening  the 
approach  and  direction  of  the  pursuers  ;  when  if  any  discoveries 
were  made,  they  would  govern  themselves  accordingly,  and  if 
not,  move  on,  but  now  slower  and  with  more  caution. 

"  Hark  !  hark,  there  !"  exclaimed  Noel,  to  his  nearest  com 
panion. 

"Ay,  ay;  but  what  did  you  think  you  heard?"  returned 
the  other. 

"  The  yells  of  approaching  Indians,  not  more  than  a  half  a 
mile  in  front;  and  if  so,  they  are  probably  on  the  trail  of 
your  captain,  who  must  now  be  near  us.  Keep  a  keen  look 
out  for  his  approach,  and  see  to  it  that  you  don't  mistake 
him  in  his  disguise,  and  fire  on  him  for  a  foe." 

The  caution,  as  the  event  of  the  next  moment  showed,  was 
not  unnecessary,  and  even  with  it,  the  same  man  came  near 
falling  into  the  fatal  error,  against  which  he  had  been  just  so 
particularly  warned;  for  the  next  instant  he  was  seen  cocking 
his  piece,  and  bringing  it  to  an  aim,  as  a  quick,  stealthy  step 
was  heard  approaching  in  the  bushes,  and  glimpses  of  a  human 
form  in  an  Indian  dress  were  caught  by  the  beholders. 

"  Hold,  there — it  is  your  captain  !"  srmrply  cried  Noel. 

"  God  forgive  me  !"  said  the  man,  lowering  the  muzzle  of 
his  gun,  with  a  look  of  horror,  at  the  thought  of  what  he 
came  so  near  doins;. 

"  A  thousand  welcomes  to  you,  Captain  Willis  !"  exclaimed 
the  overjoyed  lieutenant,  now  stepping  out  from  his  conceal 
ment,  as  the  other,  with  flushed  looks,  came  swiftly  gliding 


WILLIS   ESCAPES.  239 

tlong  to  the  ?pot.  "I  have  been  on  the  tenterhooks  on 
your  account  for  the  last  half  hour,  and  now  thank  heaven  to 
see  you  here  in  a  whole  skin/' 

"  Ah  !"  said  Willis,  enquiringly,  but  with  his  usual  calm 
ness.  "  Then  you  have  guessed  out  something  of  the  state  of 
the  case,  Noel  ?" 

"  Yes,  in  listening  closely,  distinguished  a  great  shout — 
then  soon  after  heard  a  gun — suspected  what  was  to  pay,  and 
with  these  two  men  came  forward  to  this  place  to  help  cover 
your  retreat,  and  here,  a  few  minutes  ago,  heard  their  yells 
in  pursuit— read  it  all  right,  didn't  I,  captain  ?" 

"  We  shall  find  it  so,  I  fear/' 

"  How  many  do  you  think  are  on  your  trail  ?" 

"  Not  a  large  number  in  the  nearest  gang — probably,  not 
more  than  fifteen  or  twenty ;  but  others  are  continually 
coming  up  from  the  aroused  camp  and  falling  into  the 
chase." 

"  How  near  are  those  in  the  lead,  do  you  imagine  ?" 

"  A  hundred  rods,  perhaps." 

"  So  near  !  The  last  time  they  yelled,  I  thought  they  must 
be  nearly  a  half  mile  from  us." 

"  They  were.  They  raised  an  outcry  on  discovering  the 
trail  which  they  had  lost,  to  apprise  all  other  pursuers  it  was 
found,  and  attract  them  to  the  spot.  I  know  where  I  had 
balked  the  greedy  hounds,  and  before  they  gave  the  yell  you 
heard,  indicating  that  they  had  again  discovered  the  trail,  I 
had  pulled  on  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  mile  further,  where  luck 
ily  I  came  upon  a  succession  of  fallen  trees,  lying  in  different 
directions,  and  so  newly  fallen  and  hard,  as  to  leave  no  im 
pression  of  my  foot  steps,  and  having  run  some  distance  on 
these,  I  jumped  off  on  to  a  rock,  on  one  side  entirely  out  of 
the  line  of  my  course.  It  is  at  this  place,  as  I  judge  from 
their  lung  silence,  that  they  are  now  finding  themselves  so 


I 

210  TIIF:  DOOMED  CHIEF. 

mnch  at  fault.  But  they  will  find  it  soon  enough,  to  give  US 
no  time  to  spare." 

"  Let  us  on  then  to  the  company  instantly." 

"  Yes  ;  for  we  must  all  get  out  of  the  vicinity  as  far  as  pos 
sible  before  we  make  a  stand,  lest  the  sound  of  our  guns  soon 
bring  down  upon  us  the  whole  of  King  Philip's  forces, 
which  I  found  posted  where  we  supposed  them  to  be,  not 
much  over  a  mile  from  this  spot." 

u  I  have  thought  of  all  that,  too,  Captain  Willis,  and  ac 
cordingly  ordered  the  company,  before  I  left  them,  to  prepare 
themselves,  and  stand  ready  to  march  at  a  moment's  war 
ning." 

'u  That  is  fortunate,  for  we  may  not  have  a  moment  to  lose 
in  keeping  clear  of  them  till  it  will  be  safe  to  give  them  bat 
tle.  There  !"  continued  the  speakpr,  motioning  the  others  to 
silence,  as  a  shrill  yell  of  exultation,  rising  from  a  point  of 
alarming  proximity,  rang  through  the  forest, —  "  there  !  did  you 
hear  that?  They  have  found  the  trail,  and  are  hot  on  the 
chase.  Now  let  each  put  his  best  foot  forward  for  our  com 
pany." 

With  the  rapid  pace  at  which  the  officers  and  their  men 
now  set  forward,  a  few  minutes  sufficed  to  bring  them  to  the 
sp'it  where  the  main  body  of  their  companions  stood  eagerly 
ttwairini:  their  expected  arrival.  The  eyes  of  the  men  sparkled 
with  joy  at  the  appearance  of  their  heroic  young  leader,  and, 
bur  for  his  forbidding  gestures,  would  have  given  vent  to  their 
feelings  in  the  shout  of  exultation  which  seemed  rising  to 
their  lips. 

'.'  Thank  you,  my  boys,  just  as  much  as  if  you  had,"  hastily 
interposed  the  captain,  with  an  appreciating  glance;  "but  we 
have  those  not  far  behind  us,  who  would  discover  our  position 
much  quicker  by  our  voices  than  our  trail.  And  1  deem  it 
important  to  keep  good  our  distance  before  them,  some  time 
lunger." 


SCATTERING   PURSUIT.  241 

He  then,  in  a  few  direct  words,  informed  them  of  their  po 
sition  in  relation  to  that  of  the  enemy,  explained  the  impor 
tance  of  a  rapid  retreat,  and,  bidding  them  scatter  into  the  woods 
for  separate,  but  parallel  routs,  directed  them  to  make  their 
way  with  all  the  speed  of  which  they  were  master,  for  the 
southern  point  of  a  long  narrow  cove,  which  made  in  from  the 
bay  two  or  three  miles  of  the  southwest  of  them,  and  which 
they  would  be  sure  to  reach  by  steering  three  or  four  points 
to  the  right  of  the  then  noon-day  sun.  With  these  orders, 
and  with,  the  general  understanding,  that  if  they  were  over 
taken  by  the  pursuers  before  reaching  their  destination,  they 
should  all  stop,  and  rally  towards  the  place  where  the  first  gun 
should  be  heard,  they  instantly  started  on  their  race  through 
the  forest.  The  policy  of  Captain  Willis  in  scattering  his 
men  widely  into  the  woods,  was  destined  to  subserve  even 
more  purposes  than  the  ordinary  ones  for  which  it  was  inten 
ded, — those  of  facilitating  flight,  and  confusing  the  enemy,  in 
case  of  being  overtaken.  For  the  Indians,  on  reaching  the 
place  where  the  company  had  been  posted,  and  from  which 
they  had  just  started,  and  on  finding  such  a  multitude  of  dis 
tinct  or  separate  trails  leading  off  from  the  spot,  supposed  the 
whites  to  number  as  many  hundreds  as  in  reality  they  did 
tens,  and  that  the  apparent  flight  was  only  a  ruse  to  draw  them 
into  an  ambuscade.  This  led  to  a  delay  till  reinforcements 
could  be  brought  up,  and  then  to  a  caution  and  tardiness  in 
pursuit,  which  afforded  ample  time  to  the  pursued  to  reach 
their  destination  and  concentrate,  before  their"  pursuers  ar 
rived  in  the  vicinity.  The  head  of  the  cove,  at  which  the 
company,  coming  in  one  by  one  from  their  rapid  march,  had 
now  collected,  curved  round  to  the  south  within  half  a  mile 
of  the  bay,  so  as  to  form  with  it  a  narrow  neck  of  land,  em 
bracing  rough  and  rocky  elevations  in  the  centre,  and  extend 
ing  about  a  mile  ami  a  half  northward.  Here  gathering  on 
the  shaded  bank  of  a  small  brook,  they  sat  down  to  cool  tbein- 
16 


242  THE    DOO.MKI)    CH  IKK. 

selves,  after  their  unwonted  exertions  in  the  heat  of  the  day, 
and  take  a  little  refreshment,  having  first  posted,  at  a  little 
distance  in  the  rear,  a  few  trusty  pickets  to  guard  against  the 
surprise,  by  which  they  were  sadly  conscious  they  were  every 
moment  liable  to  be  overtaken. 

"  I  am  not  without  hope,"  observed  Noel,  after  the  demands 
of  appetite  had  been  measurably  satisfied  by  copious  draughts 
of  water  from  the  limpid  stream  at  their  feet,  and  portions  of 
food  drawn  from  their  knapsacks — "  I  am  not  without  strong 
hope,  that  we  have  so  far  outran  the  red  devils  that  they  have 
given  up  the»chase,  and  left  us  exempt  from  further  molesta 
tion.  What  is  your  opinion,  Captain  Willis?" 

"My  opinion  is,  that  you  will  soon  find  yourself  mistaken. 
Metacom,  now  he  knows  his  enemies  have  penetrated  this 
wilderness,  where  he  doubtless  supposed  himself  secure  against 
their  intrusion,  will  never  permit  us  to  get  away  without  an 
attack,  or,  at  least,  without  knowing  our  numbers  and  how  we 
came  here.  And  I  regret  to  say  I  have  reasons  for  believing 
it  will  be  a  desperate  attack." 

"What  are  those  reasons,  captain?" 

"  They  grow  out  of  the  fact  which  I  think  the  old  fox  must 
have  discovered  for  the  first  time,  in  consequence  of  my  visit 
to  his  camp  to-day;  for  while  /  made  many  discoveries  there 
which  I  deem  of  great  consequence  to  the  public  to  be  known, 
and  which  at  the  first  leisure  hour  I  will  unfold  to  you,  I 
think  lie  must  have  made  one  which  I  had  much  rather  he 
should  not  have  known." 

"  He  must  have  discovered,  of  course,  that  there  had 
been  a  spy  in  his  camp;  but  what  further  could  he  have 
learned?" 

"  Who  that  spy  was.  Did  I  not  tell  you  how  I  came  to  be 
detected?" 

"No;  you  told  me  nothing  but  to  confirm  my  conjectures 
that  you  were  detected  and  pursued." 


CONSULTATION  FOR  DEFENSE.  243 

"True;  you  are  right.  I  had  not  time  when  we  first  met, 
end  this  is  the  first  oportunity  we  have  since  had  to  speak 
together.  Well,  the  only  cause  of  my  detection  arose  from  a 
provoking  oversight  of  my  own,  in  taking  my  rifle  along  with 
me." 

He  then  briefly  related  the  incidents  connected  with  his 
detection  and  escape,  and  resumed — 

"  Now,  Metacom,  who  well  knows  who  the  owner  of  the 
only  gun  like  his  own  is,  and  who  also  knows  how  well 
acquainted  that  owner  is  with  the  ways  of  the  Indians,  their 
secret  forest  haunts,  and  almost  every  thing  that  relates  to 
them,  will  understand  at  a  glance  the  importance  of  ridding 
himself  of  such  a  foe.  So  you  now  see  the  force  of  my 
reasons  for  expecting  an  attack.'7 

"  I  do;  and  I  think  we  should  lose  no  time  in  looking  up 
the  place  where  we  can  defend  ourselves  to  the  best  advantage. 
Have  you  any  such  position  in  view?" 

"  I  have  several  that  would  do.  But,  by  way  of  best  pro 
viding  for  all  contingencies,  I  think  we  had  better  make  for 
the  northern  point  of  this  neck  of  land,  where  the  advantages 
for  making  a  stand  are  as  good,  perhaps,  as  those  of  any  other 
place,  and  where,  at  least,  we  cannot  be  surrounded. " 

At  that  instant,  two  muskets  burst  in  quick  succession  from 
the  woods  in  the  direction  of  their  outposts,  significantly  ap 
prising  the  startled  company  that  the  enemy  were  at  hand. 
Every  man,  grasping  his  gun,  hied  to  the  nearest  tree,  and, 
with  cocked  piece,  awaited  in  watchful  silence  for  the  first 
appearance  of  a  foeman  as  a  mark  for  his  ready  bullet.  In 
two  or  three  minutes,  the  pickets  came  rushing  in,  and 
reported  that  the  Indians,  in  large  numbers,  had  reached  the 
near  vicinity,  and  appeared  to  be  stealthily  extending  their 
line  across  the  neck  about  a  furlong  in  the  rear.  And  this 
intelligence  was  the  next  moment  confirmed  by  the  appear 
ance  of  seemingly  hundreds  of  painted  warriors  rapidly  pass- 


244  THE    DOOMED    CHIEF. 

ing  over  a  partially  open  hill  top  a  short  distance  to  the  east, 
and  streaming  along  down  the  western  slope,  and  throwing 
themselves  into  a  line  extending  from  the  hill  across  the  en 
trance  of  the  neck  to  the  bay  beyond,  with  the  evident  inten 
tion  of  cutting  off  all  retreat  for  their  intended  victims  along 
the  shore  to  the  south. 

"  The  red  rascals  really  think  they  have  got  us  now,  to  a 
dead  certainty,  I  suppose,"  cheerily  sung  out  Captain  Willis  to 
his  men,  whom  he  noticed  watching  with  uneasy  looks  this 
movement  of  their  foes;  "  but  the  labor  of  that  cunning 
manoeuvre  is  lost,  at  least,  I  can  tell  them  ;  for  I  had  no 
notion,  as  they  seemed  to  have  supposed,  of  proceeding:  along 
the  shore  south  to  give  them  a  chance  to  surround  us  on 
three  sides,  instead  of  one,  as  they  can  only  do  in  the  place 
to  which  we  will  now  betake  ourselves.  So,  courage,  boys, 
all  will  come  out  as  safely  for  us  yet,  as  it  will  fatally  for  our 
foes,  if  they  presume  to  pursue  us." 

11  Ay,  I  can  testify  to  all  that,"  responded  Noel,  in  the  same 
animated  tones,  as  he  glanced  around  to  the  company.  "The 
captain  and  myself  had  just  been  talking  over  the  matter  be 
fore  we  heard  the  firing,  and  decided  on  marc-hing  to  the 
point  where  there  is  an  open  field,  which  Indians  are  always 
shy  about  entering,  and  where  there  are  plenty  of  large  stones 
to  protect  us,  if  they  did.  So  let  them  follow  us  there,  if 
they  like,  and  we  will  spot  their  red  pictures  for  them  as  sure  as 
they  try  it." 

"There,  my  lads,"  rejoined  Willis;  "  you  see  that  your 
lieutenant  is  of  the  same  opinion  with  me.  Then  let  us  put 
ourselves  in  motion  for  the  point.  Take  to  the  right  rf  yon 
der  central  ridge  in  front,  for  that  is  the  most  direc*  route — 
move  on  lively  there,  my  boys — no  trouble  in  that  direction. 
All  the  danger  will  be  in  the  rear,  and  that  is  a  post  I  will 
take  myself." 

Starting  off  with   eager  alacrity,  under  the  new  impulse 


DEN    OF    RATTLESNAKES.  245 

which  the  encouraging  words  and  intrepid  bearing  of  their 
cool  and  self-possessed  young  leader  and  his 'second  in  com 
mand  had  given  their  sinking  hearts,  the  men  all  hurried  for 
ward,  and.  in  their  haste  to  reach  the  favoring  location  ahead, 
to  which  they  had  been  ordered  to  proceed,  soon  left  their  two 
first  officers  considerably  behind  them. 

"I  thank  you,"  said  Willis,  as  soon  as  he  found  himself 
and  friend  fairly  beyond  the  hearing  of  any  of  the  men — "  I 
sincerely  thank  you,  Noel,  for  backing  me  with  those  cheer 
ing  words.  They  were  timely,  and,  as  you  saw,  I  presume, 
much  needed.  The  sight  of  the  enemy  in  s  ich  unexpected 
numbers  and  frightful  appearance,  had  evidently  struck  the 
men  with  dismay.  And  I  don't  much  blame  them  for  trem 
bling  at  our  prospect,  neither  ;  for,  though  I  would  say  it  to 
only  you,  Noel,  it  is  as  I  feared.  We  have  got  to  face  a  des 
perate  onset.  But  to  suffer  any  misgivings  to  take  possession 
of  the  company,  would  only  enhance  the  danger.  Our  sal 
vation  must  depend  on  our  coolness  and  courage  !" 

The  company,  in  the  meanwhile,  hurrying  along  in  a  close, 
irregular  column,  had  entered  the  long,  rocky  defile,  formed 
by  the  sharp  central  ridge  before  named,  and  the  steep,  ledgy 
shore  of  the  cove.  Having  here  proceeded  about  a  quarter  of 
a  mile  in  this  manner,  they  were  diligently  making  their 
difficult  way  over  the  fallen  trees  and  rough,  briar-clad  rocks, 
when  their  ears  were  suddenly  assailed  by  a  strange  concate 
nation  of  sounds,  which  seemed  every  where  springing  up  all 
at  once,  around  and  in  front  of  them.  It  was  a  peculiar, 
shrill,  quavering  noise,  or  rather  combination  of  similar  noises, 
varied  only  by  the  different  distances  from  which  they  came; 
here,  low  and  indistinct — there,  loud  and  sharp;  but  all 
maintaining  the  same  unearthly,  abhorrent  tone — a  tone  re 
sembling  something  between  a  hiss  and  a  whistle.  With  an 
instinctive  shudder,  the  men  all  stopped  short  in  their  tracks, 
and  exchanged  quick  glances  of  inquiry  and  apprehension. 


246  THE 


DOOMED    CHIEF. 


"  What  wns  that?"  exclaimed  one,  with  a  recoiling  motion. 
tl  What,  in  the  name  of  heaven,  was  that?" 

"Yes,  what  was  it?  What  is  it?  Oh,  what  is  it?" 
quickly  responded  half  a  dozen  others,  in  the  same  breath,  as 
the  strange  music  burst  forth  afresh,  and  in  fast  and  far 
spreading  chorus,  at  the  sound  of  their  voices. 

They  all  now,  with  one  accord,  began  to  peer  in  among  the 
rocks  and  bushes  from  which  the  sounds  seemed  to  proceed, 
•when  first  one,  then  another,  then  all  who  were  in  front,  sud 
denly  started  and  leaped  wildly  back  among  their  advancing 
comrades,  at  the  sight  that  had  greeted  their  horrified  senses. 
They  were  in  a  den  of  countless  rattlesnakes !  All  along  the 
front,  from  the  insurmountable  ledge  on  the  left  to  the  no  less 
precipitous  descent  of  the  rocks  into  the  water  on  the  right, 
scores  of  the  crawling  monsters  were  seen  lifting  their  gray, 
menacing  heads,  and  brandishing  their  forked  tongues,  as  if 
gathered  to  give  battle  to  the  intruders  j  while  the  commotion 
of  the  leaves,  as  far  back  as  the  eye  could  reach,  told  that  the 
whole  area  of  the  pass,  to  an  unknown  distance  in  the  rear, 
was  alive  with  the  horrid  progeny.  And  it  was  seen  at  once 
that  there  was  no  way  of  getting  by  or  round  them,  and  that 
the  only  alternative  that  remained  was  to  retreat  from  the 
defile  in  the  way  it  was  entered,  or  incur  the  hazard  of  the 
almost  certain  death  of  many,  if  not  all  the  company,  by 
rushing  through  the  frightful  array.  But  the  men  were  not 
lonir  in  deciding  on  what  course  they  should  pursue  in  the 
unexpected  emergency.  One  and  all  declared  they  had  rather 
face  a  thousand  Indians  than  run  the  gauntlet  through  such  a 
congregated  host  of  death-dealing  reptiles,  and  accordingly 
the  whole  company  turned  and  rushed  tumultuously  back 
toward  the  mouth  of  the  pass. 

While  this  singular  scene  was  transpiring  among  the  men, 
their  two  officers,  whom  we  left  leisurely  following  on  behind, 
had  noticed  indications  of  the  movements  of  their  foes  in  the 


247 

rear,  which  had  suddenly  caused  them  to  change  their  pace  to 
a  speed  that  soon  brought  them  far  into  the  defile,  in  which 
they  were  vigorously  pushing  forward,  when,  to  their  utter  aston 
ishment,  they  met  their  company  in  full  retreat  from  the  place. 

u  Halt !"  thundered  Captain  Willis,  to  whom  the  unex 
pected,  and  as  he  now  particularly  considered  it,  most  un 
lucky  retreat,  was  wholly  incomprehensible.  "  What  in  the 
name  of  heaven  does  all  this  mean  ?" 

The  cause  was  at  once  explained  to  the  surprised  and  irri 
tated  officer  by  his  shuddering  followers,  who  described  the 
position  and  the  numbers  of  the  rattlesnakes  to  be  such,  that 
no  further  progress  in  that  direction  could  be  undertaken  ex 
cept  at  the  imminent  peril  of  all  their  lives.  At  first,  both 
Willis  and  Noel  were  incredulous,  and  tried  to  remonstrate  with 
the  men,  believing  their  accounts  at  least  to  have  been  much 
exaggerated  by  their  fears,  and  confidently  asserting  the  opinion 
that  two  or  three  persons  going  forward  with  long,  light  poles, 
could  easily  clear  the  way,  so  that  a  passage  could  be  effected 
with  entire  safety.  But  with  one  accord,  the  men  all  reso 
lutely  demurred  ;  and  when  further  pressed,  absolutely  refused 
to  return  to  renew  the  hazardous  experiment,  unitedly  de 
claring  that  they  had  far  rather  face  the  savage  foe,  what 
ever  their  number,  than  again  attempt  to  force  a  passage 
among  the  myriads  of  venomous  reptiles  that  so  thickly  en 
vironed  the  only  accessible  way  in  that  direction,  and  con 
cluded  by  offering  to  follow  wherever  their  captain  should 
dare  to  lead  them. 

11  So  be  it,  Ihen,"  said  the  captain,  his  countenance  now 
changing  from  the  look  of  mingled  disappointment  and  anx 
iety  it,  had  worn,  to  one  of  stern  determination.  "  You  shall 
have  your  choice  j  but  I  cannot  insure  you  an  unmolested 
march  to  the  point  in  the  only  other  way  now  left  for  us. 
The  red  skins,  I  fear,  have  before  this  advanced  and  taken 
possession  of  this  long,  woody  ridge,  separating  us  from  the 


248 


THE   I  DOMED   CHIEF. 


other  shore,  along  which,  foes  or  no  foes,  we  will  force  our 
passage  to  the  point  which  we  were  to  have  reached  by  pro 
ceeding  on  this  side  of  the  hill.  Throw  yourselves  into  a 
scattering  file,  then,  boys,  and  come  on.  Let  not  another 
word  or  sound  of  footstep  be  heard,  not  a  single  gun  be  fired 
unless  to  anticipate  a  shot  from  an  enemy  in  your  path. 
When  we  get  out  to  the  thick  woods,  at  the  southern  point 
of  the  hill,  where  we  must  wind  round  to  the  opposite  shore 
I  will  plunge  on  ahead.  Follow,  and  keep  up  who  can." 

Noel  now  falling  into  the  rear,  and  Willis  leading  the  way, 
they  all,  with  hurrying  steps,  silently  made  their  way  out  of 
the  luckless  defile,  which  had  caused  them  a  delay,  that  at 
this  juncture,  they  felt,  was  fraught  with  especial  danger.  The 
moment  the  captain  gained  the  border  of  the  dense  forest,  where 
he  had  apprised  the  men  they  were  to  double  the  southerly  ex 
tremity  of  the  hill,  he  turned  to  them,  mutely  beckoned  them 
on,  hastily  pointed  in  the  direction  he  was  about  to  take, 
glided  into  the  thicket,  and  closely  followed  by  his  whole 
company,  sped  his  way,  with  many  an  uneasy  glance  around 
him  towards  the  yet  comparatively  distant  position,  which  it 
was  now  their  great  object  to  gain  before  their  change  of 
movements  should  be  detected  by  their  wary  foes,  who  were 
doubtless  looking  for  them  in  another  direction.  Fortunately 
for  these  dangerously  environed  rangers,  the  trees  were  so 
large  and  thickly  planted,  and  the  undergrowth  so  impervious 
to  the  sight  in  this  part  of  the  woods,  that  they  could  be  seen 
only  at  the  shortest  distance.  Favored  by  this  circumstance, 
and  the  fact  that  the  attention  of  their  enemies  was  turned 
from  them,  they  passed  nearly  through  their  whole  reach  of 
woods,  without  the  least  molestation,  or  discovering  any  indi 
cations  of  danger,  either  before  or  around  them.  And,  as  the  long 
sought  opening  was  now  in  plain  view  before  them,  they  began 
to  grow  sanguine  in  the  hope  that  they  should  entirely  es 
cape  the  open  assault  or  secret  ambuscade,  for  which  they 


ATTACKED  BY  INDIANS.  249 

had  been  looking  at  every  step  they  took  n  ..heir  progress 
through  the  woods.  But  from  their  pleasing  ure.uu  of  escap 
ing  this  peril,  they  were  destined  to  be  the  next  moment  most 
fearfully  awakened.  Suddenly,  and  as  unexpectedly  as  a 
crash  of  thunder  from  an  unthreatening  sky,  simultaneously 
burst  the  reports  of  an  hundred  muskets  from  a  line  of  low, 
thick  evergreen,  within  pistol  shot  on  the  right,  on  the  aston 
ished  band,  as,  totally  unconscious  of  the  vicinity  of  their 
silent  and  secreted  foe,  they  were  moving  along  in  close  file 
towards  the  opening  Captaiji  Willis,  who  had  already 
reached  the  edge  of  the  woods,  amazed  but  undisturbed  by 
the  perfect  shower  of  bullets,  which  pierced  his  clothes,  or 
whistled  over  his  head,  gave  the  first  thought  for  the  fate  of 
his  men,  half  of  whom,  at  least,  he  supposed  must  have  been 
swept  away  by  the  terrible  volley.  But  with  a  joy  equalled 
only  by  his  surprise,  he  beheld  every  man  on  his  feet,  and 
apparently  unharmed. 

"  Not  a  gun  !  not  a  single  gun  !"  he  shouted  as  he  saw  seve 
ral  of  his  men  raising  their  pieces  to  return  the  fire, — "  Give 
God  the  thanks  for  this  miracle  if  you  escape  under  such  a 
volley  as  that,  and  foJow  me  through  the  field  to  the  point  of 
the  neck  as  fast  as  your  legs  can  carry  you  !" 

"  On  !  on,  there  !"  thundered  Noel,  from  the  rear, — "  Bun  ! 
for  your  lives,  run  !  before  the  lifting  smoke  of  their  guns  shall 
give  the  balked  devils  another  sight  of  you  !" 

Rallying  from  their  dismay  at  the  startling  command  of 
their  officers-),  as  well  as  at  the  conviction,  which  now  flashed 
over  their  minds,  of  the  extreme  peril  to  which  they  would 
be  the  next  moment  exposed,  the  men  bounded  forward  with 
a  swiftness  which  the  instincts  of  self-preservation  could  Have 
only  imparted,  and  were  quickly  too  far  distant  in  the  long 
narrow  field,  through  which  their  rnce  for  life  led  them,  to  be 
harmed  by  the  scattering  volleys  which  their  disappointed  and 
enraged  foe  continued  to  send  after  them. 


250  THE    DOOMED    CHIEF. 

The  narrow  bushy  field,  through  which  the  devoted  band 
were  now  speeding  their  way  before  their  hotly  pursuing  foes, 
opened  at  length  into  a  rough,  stony  piece  of  ground  of  seve 
ral  acres,  from  which  the  forest  had  been  cleared,  scattering 
stumps,  a  few  old  logs  with  an  occasional  tuft  of  bushes, 
only  remaining  to  screen  an  approaching  foe.  And  it  was 
this  open  space  which  constituted  the  extreme  point  of  the 
neck,  and  the  position  selected  by  Captain  Willis  for  making 
his  final  stand  against  his  savage  pursuers;  the  nearest  woods 
being  some  hundred  yards  from  the  spot  he  proposed  to  oc 
cupy,  and  the  abundance  of  loose  stones  lying  near  it  being 
capable,  with  a  little  labor,  of  forming  a  tolerable  breast-work 
for  the  men.  On  reaching  the  point,  the  captain  hastily 
glanced  over  the  ground,  selected  the  spot  he  deemed  the 
most  favorable  for  his  purpose,  and  directed  his  followers,  as 
fast  as  they  came  up,  to  throw  down  their  guns  and  fall  to 
work  with  might  and  main  in  throwing  the  stones  into  an  ir 
regular  wall,  or,  as  they  best  could,  into  a  line  of  heaps,  each 
large  and  high  enough  to  protect  at  least  two  or  three  of  the 
men.  Having  put  about  half  the  company  on  this  work,  he 
ordered  the  rest  to  scatter  and  throw  themselves  down  behind 
the  best  screening  objects  they  could  find  along  the  field  in 
front,  to  watch  and  fire  upon  the  enemy  the  moment  they 
should  make  their  appearance.  And  the  event  soon  showed, 
that  these  movements  had  not  been  made,  nor  these  precau 
tions  taken  any  too  promptly  for  their  safety.  For  scarcely 
had  that  division  of  the  company  ordered  in  front  for  the  pro 
tection  of  those  engaged  on  the  breast-work  become  fairly  set 
tled  behind  the  different  screening  objects,  to  which  they  had 
betaken  themselves,  before  a  hideous  yell  of  mingled  wrath 
and  exultation  fiercely  burst  from  every  point  along  the  bor 
der  of  the  forest,  telling  the  startled  rangers  that  their  far 
out-numbering  foes  had  arrived,  formed  a  line  from  one  side 


INDIANS    PURSUING    THE    WHITES.  251 

of  the  neck  to  the  other,  arid  were  now  exulting  in  the  cer 
tainty  of  their  destruction. 

**  Courage,  my  boys,"  exclaimed  Willis,  fearing  the  damp 
ening  effect  of  that  terrific  shout  on  the  minds  of  his  men — 
u  Courage!  keep  up  brave  hearts.  The  same  Providence  that 
turned  away  that  shower  of  bullets  that  were  half  an  hour  ago 
poured  upon  you,  will  still  protect  your  lives  and  bring  you 
off  victorious." 

At  that  moment  there  was  a  visible  movement  of  hasty 
preparation  among  the  low-lying  and  before  motionless  and 
silent  men  all  along  the  irregular  line  of  the  outpost ;  and  with 
the  sharp  clicking  of  cocking  fire-locks,  several  voices,  from 
the  more  advanced  positions,  were  heard  in  low,  eager  tones 
announcing — 

"  They  are  coming  !  They  are  creeping  in  whole  swarms  to 
the  very  edge  of  the  woods  !  See  !  See  !  they  are  fixing  for 
a  sudden  rush  !  Aye,  some  of  them  have  already  worked 
themselves  along  into  plain  sight ! — Shall  we  fire,  captain  !" 

"  Not  yet — keep  cool  a  moment  longer,  boys,"  returned  the 
captain,  in  sharp  measured,  half  suppressed  accents,  while  cock 
ing  his  own  piece  and  carefully  raising  it  to  an  aim  through 
the  small  bush  behind  which  he  was  lying — "  Not  quite  yet, 
we  want  to  give  them  a  telling  volley  at  the  outset.  Lie  still 
as  mice,  all  of  ye  ;  and  they  will  soon  enough  of  them  be  out 
in  sight  to  gi\e  each  of  you  a  fair  mark.  Then  make  sure 
of  good  and  certain  aims.  There  !  I  have  got  mine  !  Ready 
all !  fire  !" 

With  the  word,  the  air  was  rent  by  the  sound  of  twenty 
exploding  muskets ;  and  the  men  eagerly  peering  out  from 
their  coverts,  exultingly  witnessed  the  effect  of  their  well 
directed  volley,  in  the  wild  commotion  of  the  savages  who, 
with  yells  of  rage,  were  seen  hastily  dragging  back  their  dead 
and  wounded  into  the  recesses  of  the  forest. 

Three  loud  and  quickly  succeeding  cheers  spontaneously 


252  THE    DOOMED    CHIEF. 

burst  from  the  triumphing  bind  at  these  palpable  indications 
of  tiie  death  and  discomfiture  which  their  fire  had  carried  into 
the  ranks  of  their  hated  foes. 

"  Ho !  there,  my  men  !"  shouted  Noel,  who  had  taken 
charge  of  those  engaged  on  the  breastwork — "Spring,  now, 
every  man  of  you,  to  the  work  of  tumbling  up  the  stones, 
whjle  the  smoke  of  your  comrades'  fire  shall  screen  you  from 
the  aim  of  the  red  skins.  For  the  next  five  minutes,  you  are 
safe  ;  so  on  with  work  with  a  will  I" 

And  they  did  so  to  the  letter.  If  ever  men  were  seen  to 
put  forth  desperate  physical  energies,  it  was  on  this  emer 
gency  ;  when  all  felt  deeply  and  tremblingly  conscious  that  if 
their  ruthless,  and  now  highly  exasperated  enemy,  outnumber 
ing  more  than  five  to  one,  probably  their  own  feeble  band 
could  not  be  deterred  from  an  open  charge  and  hand  to  hand 
fight,  their  whole  company  were  doomed  to  inevitable  destruc 
tion.  And  being  equally  conscious  too,  that  their  companions 
in  front  must  soon  be  driven  back  from  the  imperfectly  screen 
ing  objects,  which  they  now  occupied,  and  which  as  those 
objects  became  larger  and  more  frequent  towards  the  woods, 
would  enable  the  foe  to  advance  with  equal,  or  greater  se 
curity,  the  eager  band  now  assisted  by  many  of  those  who  had 
taken  post  with  their  arms  in  front,  scrambled,  lifted,  and 
toiled  on,  as  men  never  toiled  before,  in  perfecting  their  rocky 
defenses.  It  was  not  many  minutes,  however,  before  their 
open  movements  were  detected  through  the  dissolving  clouds 
of  smoke  by  their  vigilant  enemies,  who  had  mostly  either 
retained  their  old  posts,  or  darted  forward  to  others  more  in 
advance.  And  quickly  a  shower  of  bullets,  falling  closely 
around,  and  some  even  striking  the  very  stones  they  were 
firsipp'inir  in  their  arms,  was  sent  in  among  them,  and  drove 
them  behind  their  works  to  remain  till  an  answering  volley 
from  their  outlying  companions  gave  them  another  chance  to 
resume  their  labors,  with  no  other  danger  than  what  necessarily 


THE   FTGIIT.  253 

arose  from  the  random  bullets  which  still  continued  to  be 
fired  in  that  direction.  In  this  manner,  the  men  alternately 
toiling  and  desisting,  as  the  smoke  of  the  firing  screened,  or 
its  absence  exposed  them,  the  work  and  the  battle  proceeded 
together  for  the  next  two  hours  ;  when  the  swarming  foe, 
growing  more  determined  and  desperate  every  moment,  and 
beginning  to  work  their  way  among  the  nearer  coverts  of  the 
open  field,  the  beleagered  little  band,  all  except  Captain  Willis 
and  a  few  of  bis  best  marksmen,  occupying  good  positions  on 
the  right  and  left  wings,  retired  behind  the  works,  now  suffi 
ciently  raised  and  extended  to  afford  a  comparatively  good 
protection  to  the  whole  company. 

The  battle  now  became  general,  and  soon  the  whole  field 
was  enshrouded  in  smoke,  and  the  surrounding  woods  and  the 
distant  shores  of  the  bay  resounded  with  the  rattling  reports 
of  incessant  discharges  of  musketry,  and  the  hideous  yells  of 
the  savage  foe.  The  latter,  however,  for  all  their  terrible  out 
cries,  seemed  in  no  haste  to  attempt  the  open  encounter  which 
their  opponents  alone  dreaded.  But  having  already  received 
enough  fatal  lessons  to  teach  them  the  sacrifice  of  life  which 
such  an  encounter  would  cost  them,  and  now  feeling  sure  of 
their  victims  without  incurring  the  sacrifice,  they  made  only 
the  most  cautious  advances,  and  never  exposed  their  persons 
except  when  rising  to  fire,  or  dodging  from  one  covert  to  an 
other. 

The  gallant  little  band  of  rangers,  in  the  meantime,  greatly 
encouraged  in  being  thus  unexpectedly  2nabled  to  keep  their 
bloodthirsty  assailants  at  bay,  and  especially  in  their  own 
miraculous  exemption  from  either  death  or  wounds,  from  the 
scores  of  hostile  bullets  which  were  almost  incessantly  whis 
tling  immediately  over  their  heads,  or  rattling  like  hail  against 
the  stones  of  their  defences,  continued,  with  unflinching 
hearts,  to  ply  the  work  of  loading  their  pieces,  and  discharg 
ing  them  wlnnever  they  could  catch  a  glimpse  of  a  flitting 


254  THE    DOOMED    CIIIKF. 

foe;  and,  in  despite  of  their  full  consciousness  of  the  terrible 
odds  at  which  they  were  contending,  to  hope  on,  seemingly 
against  all  hope,  through  the  slowly  succeeding  hours  of  that 
portentous  evening. 

With  them  it  had  been  literally  a  day  of  hairbreadth 
escapes  and  providential  deliverances.  And  hour  after  hour 
after  that  dread  panic  of  the  heart  which  all  more  or  less  feel, 
it  is  said,  in  the  first  moments  of  battle,  had  subsided,  they 
fought  on  in  the  faith  that  in  some  way  or  other,  though  no 
one  could  pretend  to  see  how,  they  should  still  be  delivered 
from  the  terrible  fate  that  to  all  human  appearance  was  now 
their  unescapable  doom.  But  as  the  sinking  sun  began  to  dip 
on  the  western  horizon,  reminding  them  of  the  near  approach 
of  darkness,  for  which  the  now  more  and  more  closely  press 
ing,  and  the  more  and  more  fiercely  exulting  foe,  were  evi 
dently  only  waiting  to  rush  on  for  the  bloody  work  of  the 
tomahawk — as  their  ammunition  was  nearly  exhausted  ;  and 
finally  as  no  prospect  of  succor,  nor  any  earthly  avenue  of 
escape  from  the  impending  destruction  yet  appeared  to  greet 
their  anxious  gaze,  both  their  faith  and  firmness  gave  way, 
and  soon,  in  spite  of  all  the  arguments  of  their  still  unwaver 
ing  young  leader,  a  look  of  blank  despair  settled  on  every 
countenance,  while 

"  We  are  lost !  we  are  lost !"  rose  in  low,  sad  accents  from 
many  a  mouth  along  the  line. 

"  We  are  not  lost  !"  exclaimed  Captain  Willis,  in  tones 
that  roused  every  sinking  heart  to  hope  and  expectation,  as, 
after  anxiously  running  his  eye  over  the  bay,  he  eagerly 
pointed  towards  a  small  vessel  bearing  down  from  the  narrows 
above,  in  full  sail  directly  towards  them.  "  We  are  not  lost ! 
we  are  saved  !  I  know  that  sloop  and  her  brave  master.  See  ! 
the  crew  are  armed — they  are  throwing  up  planks  for  abreast- 
work,  and  preparing  to  fire  on  our  foe,  by  way  of  covering  our 
embarkation.  Three  cheers,  my  boys,  for  the  welcome  aid, 


THE   RANGERS    EMBARK.  255 

and  then  give  the  enemy  your  parting  volleys  to  aid  in  the 
providential  rescue." 

Like  a  flash  of  light  scattering  the  darkness  of  midnight, 
the  announcement  and  the  confirming  sight  of  the  fast  ap 
proaching  vessel,  changed  everything  in  an  instant.  The 
cheers  were  given  with  a  will.  The  air  was  rent  with  the 
redoubled  fire,  which,  mingling  with  that  of  the  ship's  crew, 
now  coming  to  anchor  near  the  shore,  and  sending  out  theii 
boat,  effectually  screened  the  embarkation  •  and  within  twenty 
minutes,  the  last  man  of  the  rangers  was  on  board,  and  the 
sloop  was  moving  triumphantly  away,  followed  by  the  yells  of 
rage  which  Durst  Iroui  the  balked  savages  on  shore. 


256  THE  DOOMED  CHIE?. 


CHAPTER    XIV. 

"  The  sky  is  chang'd  !     And  such  a  change  !     0  night, 
And  stortn  and  darkness,  ye  are  wondrous  strong, 
Yet  lovely  in  your  strength,  as  is  the  light 
Of  a  dark  eye  in  woman  !     Far  alorg 
From  peak  to  peak,  the  rattling  crags  among, 
Leaps  the  live  thunder !     Not  from  one  lone  cloud, 
But  every  mountain  now  hath  found  a  rongue, 
And  Jura  answers,  through  her  misty  shroud, 
Back  to  the  joyous  Alps,  who  call  to  her  aloud ! 
And  this  is  in  the  night; — Most  glorious  night! 
Thou  wert  not  sent  for  slumber!     Let  me  be 
A  sharer  in  thy  fierce  and  far  delight, — 
A  portion  of  the  tempest  and  of  thee  ! 
How  the  lit  lake  shines,  a  phosphoric  sea! 
And  the  big  rain  comes  dancing  to  the  earth  ! 
And  now  again  'tis  black, — And  now,  the  glee 
Of  the  glad  hills  shakes  with  its  mountain  mirth, 
As  if  they  did  rejoice  o'er  a  young  earthquake's  birth." 

OURS  is  a  life  of  change  and  contrast.  And  as  we  are  con 
stituted,  it  is  well  that  it  is  so.  We  owe  half  our  happiness 
to  its  contrast  to  our  misery.  So  great  is  the  effect  of  change 
and  contrast,  indeed,  that  the  very  absence  of  pain,  after  its 
severe  trials,  produces  a  positive  pleasure.  And  when  pleas 
ure  palls  by  continuance,  its  loss  can  only  be  justly  apprecia 
ted  and  its  possession  only  regained,  through  a  season  of  pain 
and  deprivation.  The  woes  incident  to  humanity,  therefore, 
seem  necessary  to  prepare  us  for  the  enjoyment  of  the  highest 
happiness,  and  may  be  regarded  as  performing  the  same  of 
fice  in  the  moral,  as  storms  in  the  physical  world,  that  of  open 
ing  the  way  to  bright  and  happy  days  to  come.  By  change, 


WILLIS   AND   THE   SKIPPER.  257 

also  the  pulses  of  life  are  quickened,  and  our  greatest  energies 
called  into  action.  Every  change  brings  a  new  experience, 
and  every  new  experience  adds  to  the  amount  of  our  know 
ledge  arid  wisdom.  It  would  stem,  then,  that  these  violent 
changes  and  striking  contrasts  in  the  affairs  of  life,  which  are 
so  constantly  occurring,  and  of  which  we  are  so  prone  to  com 
plain,  are  alike  wanted  for  the  consummation  of  human  hap. 
piness  and  the  best  and  fullest  development  of  human  char 
acter. 

It  was  sunset;  and  the  perilous  strife  of  the  day  was  over. 
Imagination  could  scarcely  conceive  a  greater  change  than 
that  which  had  occurred  within  the  last  hour  in  the  situation 
and  circumstances  of  the  heroic  young  officer  and  his  brave 
little  band  of  rangers,  whose  fortunes  we  have  been  following. 
One  hour  ago,  parched  with  thirst,  nearly  overcome  by  the 
intense  heat  of  the  broiling  summer  sun,  and  half  suffocated 
by  the  sulphureous  smoke,  with  which  the  constant  discharge 
of  their  guns  had  kept  them  enveloped,  they  were  engaged  in 
the  deadly  strife  with  a  merciless  foe  with  no  rational  hope 
of  escaping  the  destruction  which  stared  them  in  the  face. 
Now  relieved,  alike  from  their  danger,  their  terrible  sufferings 
of  thirst  and  the  scorching  rays  of  the  sun,  they  were  quietly  re 
posing  around  the  decks  of  the  sloop,  deeply  enjoying  the 
physical  contrast,  rejoicing  in  the  consciousness  of  safety, 
and  devoutly  grateful  for  their  deliverance  from  the  fearful 
perils  from  which  they  had  so  unexpectedly  and  so  strangely 
escaped.  With  them,  indeed,  it  was  one  of  those  rare  and 
Budden  transitions  from  darkness  to  light,  which  of  themselves 
make  the  most  purely  happy  moments  of  our  lives. 

"  Captain  Willis,"  said  the  hardy  looking,  free-spoken 
skipper,  who,  having  been  busy  with  ship  duties  since  the 
embarkation  of  the  imperiled  company,  now  came  forward  for 
a  more  leisurely  greeting  to  the  young  officer,  as  the  latter 
was  reclining  on  the  gunwale  near  the  stern  of  the  vessel, 
17 


258  THE   DOOMED    CHIEF. 

and  thoughtfully  looking  back  on  the  receding  battle  ground-— 
•'  Captain  Willis,  you  must  have  been  born  to  good  fortune." 

"  Do  you  call  it  good  fortune  for  a  military  leader  to  be 
compelled  to  beat  a  retreat, *nd  leave  his  enemies  masters  of 
the  battle  field?"  said  Willis,  with  a  bantering  smile,  as  he 
turned  to  the  skipper. 

"  Yes,  in  your  circumstances.  Hemmed  in  as  you  were  by 
four  times  your  own  numbers,  it  was  good  fortune  for  you  to 
escape  at  all.  And  DOW  I  cannot,  for  the  life  of  me,  see  wliy 
they  did  not  close  in  upon  your  company  with  knife  and 
tomahawk,  and  annihilate  the  whole  of  you.  I  had  supposed 
the  Wampanoogs  had  both  more  cunning  and  courage." 

"  Aye,  but  my  assailants  were  not  Wampanoogs." 

"Not  King  Philip's  forces?" 

"  His  forces  now,  but  not  his  tribe.  They  were  his  allies, 
the  Pocassets,  who,  with  their  queen,  Wetamoo,  entered  into 
an  alliance  with  him  this  very  morning,  as  I  personally  know. 
And  as  these  new  recruits  of  Philip  were  loud  in  their  boasts 
of  the  services  they  were  about  to  perform,  he  probably,  by 
way  of  testing  them,  entrusted  the  pursuit  and  intended 
destruction  of  my  band  wholly  to  them.  At  all  events,  I 
soon  discovered,  to  my  relief,  they  were  all  Pocassets,  who, 
not  having  the  courage  to  make  the  open  assault,  by  which 
they  must  have  soon  overpowered  us,  were  waiting  for  night, 
that  they  might  attack  us  under  cover  of  darkness,  without  loss 
to  themselves  and  quite  as  much  certainty  of  success." 

"  They  didn't  expect  I  should  come  up  with  my  sloop,  to 
snatch  the  game  out  of  their  hands?" 

"No,  nor  I  either.  As  I  saw  the  sun  beginning  to  touch 
the  western  hills,  and  beheld  my  best  men  yielding  to  despair, 
I  felt  myself,  I  confess,  in  a  strait  in  which  I  hope  never  to 
be  placed  again  ;  and  I  was  casting  about  for  some  expedient 
to  save  ourselves,  when  my  eye  caught  sight  of  your  vessel. 
I  need  not  say,  I  presume,  how  that  sight  gladdened  my 


A  DEAD  CALM.  259 

heart,  nor  how  deeply  grateful  I  feel  to  you  for  the  timely  and 
gallant  service  you  rendered  us." 

"  Don't  burden  yourself  much  about  that,  captain.  We 
are  involved  in  a  common  danger,  and  you  appear  to  be 
drawing  the  brunt  on  your  own  head  by  your  brave  attempts 
for  the  benefit  of  us  all.  Your  mate  —  leftenant,  I  should 
say — has  just  been  telling  me  something  about  your  exploits 
and  personal  risks  to-day,  besides  what  I  partly  witnessed 
myself;  and  if  I  had  not  decided  to  do  my  best  to  reach  you, 
I  should  have  deserved  the  rope's  end  from  the  meanest 
sailor  in  the  ship." 

"  Then  your  coming  up  at  the  time  was  not  wholly  acci 
dental?" 

<c  Oh,  no.  As  T  came  down  the  river  this  forenoon,  I 
learned  that  your  company  had  crossed  over  yesterday  for  an 
expedition  down  the  eastern  shore,  and  I  beat  down  the  bay 
slowly,  with  the  view  of  being  at  hand  for  just  such  an 
emergency  as  occurred  to  you." 

"  That  was  a  kind  and  patriotic  thought  in  you,  surely  ; 
but  where  was  you  when  the  battle  commenced  ?" 

11  A  pertinent  question,  I  admit;  and  I  should  be  ashamed 
if  I  could  not  meet  the  inference  that  flows  from  it.  1  was 
lying  four  or  five  miles  above  here ;  and  when  I  first  heard 
your  firing,  and  for  hours  after,  I  was  utterly  becalmed,  and 
instead  of  coming  downward,  I  found  myself  actually  drifting 
up  with  the  inrolling  tide.  I  knew  from  the  direction  of  the 
firing,  and  the  cloud  of  smoke  that  soon  rose  and  stood  over 
the  spot,  that  you  must  have  taken  position  near  the  point  of 
the  neck  ;  while  from  the  incessant  roar  of  the  scattered  vol 
leys,  I  judged  the  battle  to  be  a  hot  one,  and  I  would  have 
given  a  hundred  pounds  for  a  breeze  to  take  us  to  the 
gpot" 

"  And  yet  you  could  make  no  headway  ?" 

"  Not  a  mile — for  hours,  not  a  mile.     Not  the  slightest 


2(H)  THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

breat!  of  air  was  stirring.  The  sloop  lay  like  a  log  on  the 
dead  water.  We  manned  our  boat,  and  by  turns  tugged  at 
the  oars  in  trying  to  tow  the  vessel,  till  we  were  nearly  over 
come  by  the  suffocating  heat  of  the  afternoon.  But  with  all 
our  efforts,  we  could  but  little  more  than  counterbalance  the 
tide  drift;  so  we  threw  down  onr  anchor  to  save  what  we  had 
gained,  and  wait  for  a  breeze/' 

"  Which  you  got  at  last." 

"Yes,  after  laying  there  all  the  afternoon,  broiling  and 
parting  in  the  sun,  and  chafing  like  tied  mastiffs  in  our  im 
patience  to  be  in  motion,  a  smart  breeze,  about  sun  an  hour 
high,  came  unexpectedly  puffing  out  of  the  northeast,  and  as 
if  sent  on  purpose,  lasted,  you  see,  only  just  long  enough  to 
reach  and  take  you  away.  And  that  was  one  of  the  items  I 
had  in  mind  when  I  said  you  must  have  been  born  to  good 
fortune.  For  after  having  been  saved  by  miracle  all  day,  on 
land,  and  found  yourself  at  last,  without  the  least  apparent 
hope  of  further  escape,  this  breeze  seemed  to  spring  up  for  no 
other  purpose  than  to  snatch  you  away  from  death,  by  water." 

"  Providence,  skipper — the  hand  of  Providence  that  or 
dered  all  that." 

"  I  suppose  it  is  so ;  but  we  sailors  call  it  luck,  which  some 
appear  never  to  have,  others  always,  even  in  all  small  matters 
which  I  had  somehow  got  a  notion  Providence  would  not  be 
likely  to  meddle  with.  But  however  that  may  be,  you  are 
evidently,  under  one  name  or  the  other,  one  of  the  fortunate, 
and  I  am  glad  to  have  such  a  man  aboard  my  vessel,  especially 
to-night." 

"  Why  particularly  to-night,  skipper  ?" 

"  Well,  I've  my  reasons.  You  have  noticed,  perhaps,  that 
I've  been  looking  pretty  close  to  get  everything  in  trim  about 
the  sloop  '!" 

11 1  have;  and  but  for  the  very  fair  evening  we  are  having 
I  should  have  supposed  you  were  preparing  for  a  blow." 


SIGNS   OP  FOUL  WEATHER.  261 

"  If  you  liad  supposed  so,  oven  as  it  is,  you  would  not  have 
been  very  far  out  of  the  way." 

"  Why,  *kipp<jr,  what  indications  of  foul  weather  can  you 
possibly  see  in  such  a  clear  sky,  and  such  perfect  calm  as 
this." 

"  Several,  which  I  have  both  felt  and  seeu  for  some 
hours." 

"Felt?" 

u  Yes.  When  a  boy,  I  used  to  be  perfectly  unnerved  on 
the  approach  and  during  the  coiitinu;ince  of  thunder  storms. 
And  although  I  got  over  that  as  I  grew  up,  and  my  nerves 
became  firmer,  yet  I  have  always  had  enough  of  the  same  kind 
of  sensations,  when  the  elements  were  preparing  for  any  unu 
sual  battle,  to  make  my  feelings  the  best  weather  glass  I  have 
ever  found.  The  same  kind  of  sensations  have  been  creeping 
over  me  now  for  hours.  And  besides,  there  are  certain  visi 
ble  things  which  seemed  to  point  in  the  same  direction.  We 
have  had,  this  afternoon,  an  unusual  degree  of  heat,  and,  with 
the  exception  of  half  an  hour,  just  one  of  those  oppressive, 
dead  calms  which  breed  the  worst  kind  of  thunder  gusts." 

"  But  there  are  no  signs  of  anything  of  the  kind  visible  in 
the  heavens  now,  are  there  ?" 

u  Yes,  1  think  so.  YTou  see  those  thin,  whitish,  dingy 
streaks  of  cloud  that  have  shot  up  fan-wise  from  the  western 
horizon  ?" 

«  Yes." 

"  Well,  they  are  what  we  call  a  mare's  tail.  And  when 
you  see  them  shooting  up  in  that  fashion,  after  such  a  day  as 
this,  you  may  count  on  something  that  will  kick,  not  far  off 
in  that  direction.  Yes,  though  I  hope  to  be  mistaken,  I 
have  made  up  my  mind  for  something  more  than  a  mere  cap- 
full  of  wind  to-night ;  and  I  am  the  more  anxious  about  it,  as 
this  narrow  East  Bay  is  not  a  very  pretty  place  to  be  caught 
in  when  there  is  much  of  a  gale.  Had  the  breeze  continued 


THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

an  hour  longer  it  would  have  taken  us  so  far  down  that  we 
could  have  safely  scudded  out,  when  the  gust  struck  us, 
where  there  is  plenty  of  sea-room.  But  as  we  are  not  making 
a  rod  of  progress,  and  as  I  have  no  anchor  and  cable  that 
would  hold  the  sloop  in  a  gale,  I  must  take  it  as  it  comes, 
and  get  to  Newport  as  I  best  can." 

"  Are  you  bound  any  further  up  the  bay  than  Newport,  so 
that  you  could  land  my  company  near  the  new  fortress  they 
are  beginning  to  throw  up  at  Mount  Hope  ?" 

"  1  can't  tell  you,  Captain  Willis.  It  will  depend  on  di 
rections  I  expect  to  receive  when  I  reach  Newport,  whether 
I  proceed  on  to  Providence  or  return  this  way  to  Tauuton 
river." 

"  You  are  going  to  Newport,  I  suppose,  for  freight,  which 
may  not  be  made  up  without  going  on  to  the  Providence 
plantations?" 

«  No, — nothing  of  the  kind, — I  am  going  to  receive  a  pas 
senger  or  two  who  are  to  be  landed  to-night,  it  is  expected." 

"  What  !  a  voyage  this  distance  with  a  vessel  and  crew,  to 
take  away  one  or  two  passengers?" 

"  I  see,  you  think  it  strange  ;  but  I  can't  explain.  I  was 
not  very  cunning  to  say  what  I  did  about  the  object  of  my 
voyage;  but  I  am  so  apt  to  talk  out.  The  fact  is,  Cap 
tain  Wiilis,  I  am  bound  on  a  sort  of  secret  expedition, 
with  what  I  consider  a  perfectly  lawful  object.  And  I  must 
drop  the  matter  where  it  is,  and  hope  you  will  be  content  to 
do  the  same  among  the  men,  both  here  on  board,  and  when 
we  sret  to  port,  where  I  will  land  you,  if  we  are  permitted  to 
reach  there." 

"  Oh,  that  you  will  probably  do  before  morning,"  replied 
Willis,  after  a  thoughtful  pause,  in  which  he  was  evidently 
revolving  the  mysterious  words  of  the  other.  "Even  by  any 
course  you  will  be  likely  to  take,  it  cannot  be  only  about 
twenty  miles  round  to  Newport.  A  breeze,  I  tjiink,  will  soon 


PREPARING    FOR   A   GALE. 

spring  up ;  and  I  confess  I  cannot  share  in  your  apprehensions 
that  the  wind  will  prove  anything  more  than,  we  shall  need 
for  our  purpose. 

u  Ah,  I  have  much  less  faith  in  your  weather  wisdom  than 
in  your  good  fortune,  which  makes  me  feel  that  I  shall,  at 
least,  have  no  Jonah  aboard  to-night,"  replied  the  persistent 
skipper,  abruptly  turning  away  and  leaving  the  other  alone 
to  his  reflections. 

It  bad  been,  as  already  intimated,  a  day  throughout  of  unusual 
heat  and  sultriness.  And  the  heat,  and  especially  the  closeness 
of  the  arid  atmosphere,  had  been  growing,  as  the  eventful  day 
wore  awpy,  every  hour  more  intense  and  oppressive.  Even  the 
shades  of  evening,  instead  of  bringing  the  usual  relief  to  those 
who  have  been  suffering  from  a  hot  day,  seemed,  in  the  pre 
sent  instance,  but  to  add  to  the  deadness  of  the  air,  and  ren 
der  tlio  tindiininished  heat  the  more  insupportable.  Not  the 
semblance  of  a  breeze  fanned  the  waveless  waters  of  the  bay, 
w.nd  the  appearance  of  its  dark  and  dismal  expanse,  as  it  lay 
hushed  as  if  in  the  sleep  of  death,  was  varied  only  by  the 
visible  calorific  exhalations  which  rose  in  quivering  undula 
tions  along  its  heated  surface.  The  sloop,  though  all  her 
sails  were  set  in  readiness  to  catch  the  first  breath  of  moving 
air,  lay  as  moveless  on  the  waters  as  a  dead  duck  on  the  face 
of  a  mill  pond.  The  sailors,  having  done  all  that  was  required 
of  them  until  some  change  should  occur,  and  feeling  too  list 
less  fur  motion  or  conversation,  had  dropped  down  in  silence 
at  their  respective  stations  ]  while  the  rescued  rangers  lay  re 
clining  on  coils  of  rope  or  other  different  objects  scattered 
around  the  deck,  and  still  more  overcome  from  their  greater 
previous  exertions  and  exposures  through  the  day,  seemed 
drenched  with  the  spontaneous,  outstarting  perspiration,  and 
literally  panting  for  breath.  The  skipper,  still  too  much 
exercised  with  his  apprehensions  of  perils  in  store  for  his 
charge,  to  permit  him  to  take  any  attitude  of  repose,  stood  by 


THE  DOOMED  CHIEF. 

the  midship  railing,  fanning  his  bronzed  face  with  his  broad- 
brimmed  tarpauling,  and  anxiously  scanning  the  slowly,  but 
now  visibly  changing  aspects  of  the  heavens.  Our  heroic 
young  leader,  also,  too  full  of  his  own  deep  and  varied  reflec 
tions,  to  suffer  him  to  feel  any  inclination  to  give  himself  up 
to  rest,  still  retained  his  place,  now  running,  in  thought,  over 
the  wild  and  perilous  adventures  he  had  that  day  so  unex 
pectedly  encountered,  and  so  strangely  survived,  and  now 
reverting  to  the  singular  intimations  which  the  skipper  had 
thrown  out  respecting  the  purpose  of  his  little  voyage,  and 
which  he  somehow  felt  might  involve  the  object  of  his  own 
peculiar  solicitude.  How  this  could  be,  however,  he  could 
not  tell;  and  after  wearying  his  mind  with  fruitless  conjec 
tures  on  that  subject,  he  naturally  turned  his  thoughts  to  the 
prognostics  of  the  weather,  which  seemed  to  have  made  so 
deep  an  impression  on  the  mind  of  the  skipper,  and  for  the 
first  time  he  seriously  fell  to  noting  the  appearance  of  the 
clouds,  in  search  of  indications  going  to  justify  the  latter's 
predictions.  Widely  spanning  the  southeastern  horizon,  ;ind 
magnificently  arching  up  nearly  half  way  to  the  zenith,  lay 
quiescently  reposing,  a  single,  enormous  thunder-pillar,  whose 
thousand  vari-form,  encircling  folds,  each  beautifully  marked 
and  distinguished  with  their  delicately  tinted  edgings  of  pink 
and  gold,  swelled  gorgeously  up,  one  over  another,  in  snowy 
whiteness,  like  flower-clad  battlements  engirding  some  huge 
dome,  bathed  and  glittering  in  the  contrasted  light  of  the  set 
ting  sun.  After  gazing  admiringly  awhile  on  this  splendid 
semblant  edifice  of  the  heavens,  in  which,  however,  he  read 
naught  except  its  display  of  mingled  beauty  and  grandeur,  ho 
turned  to  the  west,  where  the  alleged  indications  of  a  storm 
were  more  particularly  visible.  The  pale,  thin,  upshooting 
Btreaks  of  cloud,  before  pointed  out  to  him,  had  thickened  up 
and  run  together,  nuw  forming  the  ragged  border  of  a  long, 


APPHOACn   OP   THE    STORM.  265 

muddy  looking  bank  of  clouds,  slowly  hea.ving  up  into  sight 
and  stretching  far  along  the  darkening  horizon. 

Faint,  but  quick  and  fast  co.ning  electric  flashes,  at  first 
scarcely  more  perceptible  than  the  earliest  suffusions  of  the 
morning,  but  growing  brighter  and  broader  with  each  return 
ing  flash,  soon  began  to  quiver  and  play  over  the  whole  extent 
of  the  vapory  parapet. 

Being  now  satisfied  that  the  skipper's  predictions,  of  which 
he  had  been  so  faithless,  were  to  some  extent,  at  least,  likely 
to  be  fulfilled,  he  turned  back  to  the  great  bright  cloud  in  the 
southeast,  which  a  few  minutes  before  had  attracted  his  at 
tention.  All  its  bright  and  gorgeous  hues  had  faded  away, 
am]  in  their  place  a  broad  leaden  mass  of  vapor,  rolled  heavily 
together  like  a  scroll,  was  darkly  brooding  over  that  part  of  the 
horizon.  Once  more  he  turned  to  the  ominous  cloud  rising 
in  the  west.  As  slowly  as  it  had  appeared  in  the  distance  to 
be  rising,  it  had  made  such  rapid  advances  that  it  now  ex 
tended  and  hung  like  some  vast  black  pall  over  nearly  a  third 
part  of  the  visible  heavens.  The  lightning,  every  instant 
flashing  out  from  some  part  of  the  portentous  rack,  had  now 
become  so  vivid  and  continuous  as  to  leave  no  room  for  the 
encroaches  of  night,  which  had  otherwise,  by  this  time,  en 
shrouded  the  earth  with  darkness.  And  the  thunder,  till  now 
inaudible,  began  to  reach  the  ear  in  low,  broken,  but  quickly 
repeating  sounds,  like  the  rapid  discharge  of  artillery  on  some 
far  distant  field  of  battle.  Thus  far  the  cloud,  except  the 
long,  narrow,  rifted  belt,  that  seemed  to  lend  the  van  of  the 
mustering  forces,  had  exhibited  only  one  smooth,  even,  uni 
form  appearance  over  the  whole  extent  of  its  dark,  lurid  sur 
face.  But  soon  its  face  became  ominously  varied  by  several 
small  masses  of  wild,  angry  looking  cloud  now  seen  rapidly 
pouring  up  from  behind  the  horizon  athwart  its  lower  border 
in  columns  of  inky  blackness.  The  opposite  cloud  also,  seem 
ingly  thrown  into  sympathetic  commotion,  was  undergoing, 


266  THE   DOOMED    CHIEF. 

in  the  meanwhile,  the  most  rapid  transformations,  concentra 
ting  all  its  adjunct,  floating  vapors,  doubling  and  darkening, 
as  if  passing  through  a  series  of  hurried  evolutions  preparatory 
to  taking  part  in  the  elemental  conflict  now  so  evidently  at 
hand. 

"  Do  you  see  that,  and  that,  sir?"  exclaimed  the  excited 
skipper,  again  approaching  the  young  oflicer,  and  pointing  to 
first  one  and  then  the  other  of  the  opposite  clouds. 

"I  do — but  you  don't  anticipate  much  trouble  from  that 
cloud  in  the  southeast,  do  you,  skipper  ?" 

"  Yes,  it  may  be.  At  any  rate  I  had  rather  it  was  away. 
T  have  sometimes  known  two  clouds  so  situated  play  the  very 
mischief  with  the  winds.  You  see  it  is  thickening  up,  and 
the  best  we  can  hope  of  it  is,  that  it  will  turn  into  the  same 
current  and  prove  merely  an  addition  to  the  great  one  now 
rolling  down  upon  us  in  the  opposite  direction." 

"  How  far  off  do  you  judge  the  storm  to  be  from  us,  now  ?" 

"  The  sound  of  the  thunder,  which,  when  heavy,  as  that 
probably  is,  can  be  heard  about  thirty  miles,  and  which  has 
but  just  reached  us,  will  give  the  distance  of  the  storm  from 
us  now.  And  if  I  judge  rightly  of  its  speed,  it  will  strike  us 
in  just  about  that  number  of  minutes." 

"  So  soon  ?  Why,  you  don't  seem  in  much  haste  to  reef 
your  sails." 

"  No — I  have  got  everything  so  arranged  that  I  can  take 
in  and  make  all  fast  in  ten  minutes;  and  I  want  to  improve 
the  other  twenty  in  getting  down  into  wider  water  as  far  as 
possible  before  I  yield  the  sloop  to  the  mercy  of  the  blast." 

"  I  see — we  are  evidently  moving  at  last." 

"  Yes,  and  have  been,  though  slowly,  for  the  last  ten 
minutes.  You  perceive,  the  air  is  freshening  fast.  There  is 
a  low,  heavy  rush  of  air  from  the  northeast  towards  the  path 
of  the  storm,  as  often  happens  under  such  circumstances. 
See !  it  is  bearing  us  along  bravely  now.  \Ye  may  be  able  to 


BURST    OF   THE    STORM.  267 

gain  two  or  three  miles  before  compelled  to  clew  up.  I  will 
go  forward  and  see  to  mak'ng  the  most  of  it,  as  the  distance 
gained  may  be  the  turning  point  of  our  salvation." 

Like  half-dead  men  rescued  from  a  coal  damp,  and  reviving 
in  a  stream  of  fresh  air,  the  hitherto  listless  and  dormant  3rew 
now  began  to  rouse  up  from  their  different  lounges,  rise  to 
their  feet,  and  send  inquiring  glances  abroad  over  the  hea 
vens,  when  their  looks  of  apathy  and  unconcern  were  in 
stantly  changed  to  those  of  surprise  and  alarm  at  the 
unmistakable  portents  of  the  storm  which  there  stared  them 
in  the  face.  The  broad  and  fearfully  black  rack  of  cloud 
wheeling  up  from  the  west  had  now  almost  reached  the 
zenith,  while  its  face  was  becoming  rapidly  changed  and 
broken  by  the  low,  pitchy  volumes  of  the  under-cloud  that 
was  spreading  and  sweeping  in  wild  convolutions  towards 
them.  Nearer  and  nearer  burst  the  thunders,  and  brighter 
and  broader  flashed  the  lightnings  j  and  the  deep,  dull  roar, 
the  herald  of  an  approaching  tornado,  was  already  borne  to 
the  ear  on  the  undulations  of  the  troubled  air.  The  little 
craft,,  in  the  meanwhile,  had  been  steadily  plowing  her  way 
down  the  bay  under  the  strong  press  of  the  side-wind,  skill 
fully  appropriated  for  the  purpose  by  the  anxious  skipper,  who 
stood  silent  at  the  helm,  now  intently  bending  his  gaze 
forward,  during  each  of  the  brighter  flashes  of  lightning,  at 
the  promontories  along  the  shore  ahead,  by  which  he  was 
directing  his  course,  and  now  throwing  hurried  glances  back 
over  his  shoulder  to  note  the  progress  of  the  tempest  behind. 
But  suddenly  the  wind  died  away,  and  the  ominous  calm 
which  usually  precedes  the  bursting  of  the  storm  again  fell 
on  the  face  of  the  deep.  This  did  not  occur,  however,  until 
the  gratified  skipper  saw  his  vessel  shooting  past  the  last 
headland  of  the  narrows,  and  safely  emerging  out  into  the 
wide  waters  of  the  now  rapidly  expanding  bay,  when,  quickly 
calling  his  mate  to  take  his  place  at  the  helm,  and  throwing 


268  THE    DOOMED    CHIEF. 

another  hurried  glance  ;it  (lie  fast  neaving  tempesf,  he  rushed 
forward  towards  his  anxiously  '  expectant  men,  aud  ex.«- 
claimed — 

"  Now,  into  the  rigjring,  boys  !  Every  man  of  you  into 
the  riirging  aloft!  Take  in,  clew,  and  make  double  fast  every 
stitch  of  canvas  to  the  yards,  so  that  not  a  rag  shall  be  left 
loose,  from  deck  to  top-gallant !  Bare  poles  may  even  be  too 
much  to  stand  what  is  coining.  Lively  there  !  I  tell  ye, 
there  is  not  a  moment  to  lose." 

The  sailors  sprang  to  their  task  like  men  working  for  their 
lives;  and,  thanks  to  their  captain's  previous  arrangements, 
they,  even  quicker  than  he  had  predicted,  had  put  every 
thing  in  the  closest  trim,  and  came,  one  after  another,  quickly 
dropping  to  the  deck. 

"  Now,  mate,  lash  me  to  the  helm,  and  then  yourself  to 
some  object  near,"  resumed  the  skipper.  "  All  the  rest  make 
yourselves  fast  to  something,  or  go  below.  Hear  that  roar! 
See  that  black,  boiling  mass  of  cloud  rolling  down  upon  us! 
In  three  minutes  more  we  are  in  the  whirl  of  a  tornado. 
Heaven  be  merciful  !" 

At  that  instant,  as  if  dropping  down  in  its  attempt  to  leap 
the  narrowing  space  of  clear  sky  between  the  greater  and 
lesser  racks  of  the  two  upper  clouds,  now  about  to  join  their 
forces,  swiftly  descended,  w?  Jiin  pistol  shot  of  the  sloop,  a 
blinding  stream  of  electric  tire,  and,  with  a  crash  that  shook 
the  rent  heavens  and  reeling  earth  for  miles  around,  drove  its 
terrific  bolts  directly  into  the  boiling  waters  beneath.  Scarcely 
had  the  stunned  and  blinded  crew  sufficiently  recovered  from 
the  fearful  shock  to  be  conscious  of  what  had  happened,  before 
the  black,  curling  van  of  the  swiftly  advancing  volumes  of 
the  nether  cloud,  now  fallen  down  nearly  to  the  face  of  the 
deep,  came  wildly  whirling  over  their  heads,  enveloping  them 
in  a  darkness  so  intense  and  impenetrable,  that  the  brightest 
flashes  of  lightning  from  the  great  upper  cloud  but  barely 


A  DREADFUL   GUST.  269 

enabled  them  to  discern  the  deck  beneath  their  feet.  And 
almost  at  the  same  instant,  a  furious  blast,  with 'a  roar  that 
completely  drowned  the  loudest  thunder  peals,  srrnck  the 
devoted  sloop  with  a  force  which  made  her  shake  and  tremble 
in  every  joint  and  timber,  from  keel  to  mast  head,  and  sent 
her  madly  plunging  onward  like  some  suddenly  smitten  victim 
fleeing  before  the  blows  of  the  avenger.  Another  and  another 
followed  in  quick  succession,  and  at  lessening  intervals,  till 
they  mingled  into  one  continued  on-rirshing  blast,  before  which 
the  stoutest  of  human  fabrics  had  been  but  as  feathers  on  the 
towering  wave,  filling  the  blent  heavens  and  earth  with  its 
wild  uproar,  and  forcing  the  groaning  vessel  forward  through 
the  agitated  deep  with  an  impetus  that  sent  jets  of  foam  and 
spray  over  the  whole  length  of  her  drenched  decks  below,  and 
half  way  up  to  the  dancing  yard  arms  above.  And  thus,  with 
unabated  fury,  on  swept  the  howling  blast,  and  with  it,  on  flew 
the  brave  little  craft,  now  diving  like  a  sea  fowl  beneath  the 
tops  of  the  crested  waves,  and  now  riding  hitjh  and  vibrating 
on  the  summits  of  the  rolling  billows,  with  her  head  tur- 
baned  by  the  storm  cloud,  her  mast  and  yards  wildly  tossing 
from  side  to  side,  and  her  pathway  marked  by  the  long  line 
of  white  foam  which  her  perilous  speed  had  raised  from  the 
cloven  waters.  On  she  flew,  under  the  best  guidance  her 
drenched  and  dripping  skipper  could  .uive  her  by  the  feeble 
glimmerings  of  the  lightning  that  struggled  through  the 
black  chaos  of  vapors  that  so  deep'y  enshrouded  her.  On  she 
flew,  for  a  full  half  hour;  when  the  gale  suddenly  lulled, 
stopped,  and  the  next  moment  its  fast  receding  roar  was  heard 
dyin<;  away  in  the  distance. 

The  low,  and  swiftly  flying  black,  anscry  scud  which  accom 
panied,  and,  indeed,  seemed  to  have  formed  a  part  of  the  tor 
nado,  had  now  passed  away,  leaving  the  upper  racks  of  the 
two  encountering  clouds  deeply  brooding  over  the  earth,  and 
apparently  struggling  for  the  mastery  iu  the  counter  currents 


270  THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

which  had  brought  them  together  from  nearly  opposite  direc 
tions.  The  deafening  roar  of  the  wind  also  had  ceased,  but 
in  its  stead,  along  with  the  deluging  torrents  of  rain,  the  most 
terrific  peals  of  thunder,  like  the  rapid  discharges  of  some 
hotly  worked  battery  of  artillery,  were  continually  bursting 
midway  in  the  rent  heavens,  shaking  the  solid  earth  beneath 
the  waves  with  their  fearful  concussions,  and  reverberating  in 
long,  bellowing  echoes  on  the  distant  shores  of  the  bay  ;  while 
the  now  unobstructed  lightnings  flashed  fiercely  forth  in  every 
direction — now  shooting  perpendicularly  down  to  the  face  of 
the  startled  deep,  and  now,  like  the  fiery  serpents  of  the  fabled 
Tartarus,  crinkling  and  leaping  from  wave  to  wave  over  the 
wide  arena  of  their  frightful  gambols,  till  the  whole  bay  was 
kindled  into  light,  and  seemingly  converted  into  one  vast 
phlegethon  of  flames. 

"See  !  see  there  !"  exclaimed  the  mate,  as  he  came  hurry 
ing  from  the  fore  deck  towards  the  skipper  and  the  two  offi 
cers  of  the  rangers,  who  stood  grouped  round  the  helm,  wit 
nessing,  in  mute  amazement,  the  awful  electric  display  going 
on  around  them.  "  What  is  that  ?  God  of  mercy,  what  is 
it?"  he  added,  wildly  pointing  down  the  bay. 

The  eyes  of  the  group  were  instantly  turned  in  the  direc 
tion  indicated  by  the  excited  speaker;  when  they  beheld, 
about  a  mile  to  the  south,  and  nearly  abreast  of  the  outermost 
headland  separating  the  bay  from  the  broad  ocean,  a  huge 
black,  spiral  column  standing-  up  out  of  the  waves,  and  rising 
perpendicularly  till  its  shafted  head  became  buried  in  the 
agitated  and  seemingly  stooping  cloud  high  in  the  heavens 
above. 

"  It  is  a  water  spout,"  responded  the  skipper,  with  an  air 
of  lively  concern,  after  bending  his  gaze  a  moment  on  the 
Strange  and  fearfully  magnificent  spectacle. 

"  A  water  spout !''  said  Captain  Willis,  in  surprise.  "I 
thought  they  never  occurred  in  these  latitudes." 


THE    WATER    SPOUT.  271 

"  They  do  not.  often.  But  this  is  one,  nnd  as  formidable  a 
looking  one,  too,  as  1  ever  saw  in  a  tropical  sea.  'It  is  the  re 
sult  of  the  extraordinary  state  of  the  air  'this  evening,  and  the 
meeting  of  the  two  counter  moving  clouds  we  noticed,  which 
Lave  probably  by  this  time  got  doubled  over,  and  become 
nearly  suspended  above.  You  know  I  was  unearsy  about  their 
appearance,  from  the  first,  and  was  looking  for  .omething  out 
of  the  way — even  of  a  more  dangerous  chara^er  than  the 
frightful  blow  we  have  already  passed  through." 

"  But,  are  these  water  spouts  dangerous  to  a  ship  ?" 

"  Dangerous  ?  Why,  that  in  this  case  will  be  as  our  luck 
is.  If  we  had  a  wind,  we  might  tack  and  avoid  it.  But  here 
we  are  again,  without  a  breath  of  a  breeze  ;  and  if  it  moves 
up  and  catches  us  in  this  helpless  situation,  it  would  either 
•whirl  us  up  into  its  vortex  with  a  crash  that  wouldn't  leave 
two  planks  of  the  ship  together,  or  send  us  down  to  the  bottom 
like  a  nest  of  small  reptiles  beat  into  the  earth  by  the  heel  of 
your  boot." 

While  the  skipper  was  yet  speaking,  the  water  spout  slightly 
veered,  and  disclosed  to  the  startled  spectators,  what,  owing 
to  its  direct  course,  they  had  not  before  noticed,  that  the  ob 
ject  of  their  dread  was  not  only  in  violent  motion,  but  rapidly 
approaching  that  part  of  the  bay  where  their  vessel  was  slowly 
floating  down  towards  it,  under  the  spending  impetus  of  the 
departed  gale. 

Sometimes  veering  to  the  right  or  left,  and  sometimes  mov 
ing  in  a  direct  line — sometimes  bearing  itself  perfectly  up 
right,  extending  upwards  from  the  water  in  the  likeness  of 
some  might)',  straight,  smooth,  black  shaft,  till  it  entered  the 
capping  cloud  above,  and  sometimes  swaying  to  and  fro,  and 
undulating  spirally,  like  a  huge  serpent  suspended  in  the  air, 
it  steadily  bore  up  towards  the  seemingly  doomed  vessel,  on 
whose  deck  stood  the  appalled  crew  mutely  watching  its  awful 
approach.  On,  on  it  still  came,  presenting,  as  it  neared  them 


272  THE   DOOMED    CHIEF. 

a  round  mass  of  dark  green  whirling  wafers,  gleaming  in  the 
lightnings,  and  causing  the  ocean  beneath  to  boil  like  a  pot 
along  its  fearful  path  through  the  agitated  waters. 

With  one  accord,  the  affrighted  crew  now  called  wildly  to 
the  skipper  to  make  some  attempt  to  escape  the  destruction 
which  appeared  so  near  and  so  inevitable,  to  the  ship  and  every 
soul  on  board. 

a  Peace  !"  responded  the  skipper,  who  stood  with  folded 
arms  calmly  and  collectedly  viewing  the  terrific  spectacle — 
"  Peace  !  you  should  all  know  that  if  I  could  have  done  any 
thing,  it  would  have  been  done  before  this  last  minute  of  our 
crisis.  Peace  !  and  fall  to  your  prayers,  as  I  am  doing.  If 
Providence  and  Captain  Willis's  good  star  don't  interpose  to 
prevent,  our  time  is  come,  that  is  all." 

But  Providence  did  interpose  to  save  the  despairing  mari 
ners.  When  the  frightful  column  had  reached  a  point  in  its 
direct  course  towards  them,  within  a  furlong  of  the  sloop,  it 
airnin  veered  a  little  to  one  side,  and,  moving  on  in  a  semi 
circular  path,  passed  by  them  with  the  deafening  roar  of  a 
cataract,  so  near  as  to  throw  a  shower  of  spray  over  their 
rocking  ship,  and  send  it  whirling  into  the  foaming  wake  be 
hind. 

If  ever  the  hearts  of  men  crushed  out  vocally  in  crratifude, 
it  w-is  those  of  the  m.-n  who  now,  after  having  given  them 
selves  up  for  lost,  had  thus  escaped  the  awful  death  that  -o 
nearly  threatened  them.  But  their  dangers  were  not  over. 
While  they  were  yet  indulging  in  their  thanksgivings  and 
mutual  congratulations,  there  rose  a  cry  that  the  waterspout 
was  returning.  The  eyes  of  all  were  instantly  turned  in  the 
direction,  and  but  to  behold  with  new  horror  the  meteoric 
monster  slowly  sweeping  round  and  coming  back  in  a  shortened 
circle  whose  curve  would  bring  it  directly  upon  the  luckless 
vessel. 

"  Now  Heaven  forefend  !"   exclaimed  the  sorely  exercised 


SI  RANGE   METEOR.  273 

skipper.  u  I  should  not  think  God  would  tantalize  us  in  that 
way.  Pray  again — pniy  all  ye  who  can,  and  not  depend  on 
me.  I  feel  so  worked  up,  my  own  prayers  won't  be  worth  a 
rope's  end  to  you,  this  time." 

But  the  skipper's  want  of  faith  was  the  next  moment, 
signally  rebuked  by  a  strange  and  unforeseen  instrumentality. 
As  the  waterspout  came  thundering  on,  and  while  getting  into 
fearful  proximity  with  the  ship,  a  large  round  ball  of  electric 
fire,  vying  with  a  noon-day  sun  in  apparent  size  and  brilliancy, 
caiiie  majestically  sailing  through  the  air  and  struck  the 
watery  shaft  midway  between  the  clouds  and  ocean.  A  stun 
ning  detonation  instantly  succeeded  the  contact;  when,  with 
a  deafening  sound  of  rushing  and  tumbling  waters,  a  dense 
cloud  of  mist  suddenly  expanded  outward  from  the  spot  and 
Veiled  every  thing  from  view.  Within  a  minute,  the  misty 
cloud  had  dispersed,  and  the  waterspout  was  nowhere  to  be 
seen. 

u  Surely  the  devil  is  abroad  to  night !"  exclaimed  the 
amazed  skipper,  gazing  into  the  empty  space  where  the  water 
spout  was  last  seen.  "  But  I  think  he  must  have  taken  him 
self  off  with  the  explosion  of  that  strange  fire  ball  ;  for  I  smell 
sulphur  as  plain  as  old  cheese,  and  besides  here  comes  a 
natural  breeze,"  he  added,  as  a  smart  blast  of  wind  from  the 
northwest  struck  the  sloop, 

'•  Another  gale  I  fear,"  responded  the  mate  springing  to 
the  helm. 

"  No  matter  if  it  is — I  can  understand  that,  and  there  is 
plenty  of  sea  room  before  us  now.  But  what  is  that  crossing 
our  beam  outside  the  capes  there,  a  half  mile  or  so,  ahead?" 
continued  the  speaker  pointing  in  a  lingering  flash  of  lightning 
to  the  dark  hulk  of  a  mastless  vessel  tossing  about  at  the 
mercy  of  the  waves  "  It  is  some  unlucky  craft  that  bis 
been  dismantled  in  the  ga!e.  And  <io<>d  heavens  !  She  lo*>ks 
like  the  very  une.  Up  with  the  trysail,  boys.  She  is  in 
18 


274  TUB    DOOMED   CHIEF. 

distress,  and  drifting  towards  the  inner  breakers.  Perhaps 
we  can  reach  her  and  save  the  crew." 

"  The  very  one,  said  you,  skipper?"  eagerly  asked  our 
hero,  rushing  forward.  "  What  one  ?  What  vessel  do  you 
suspect  it  to  be  ?" 

"The  one  I  was  expecting  to  meet,  I  have  too  much  rea 
son  to  fear.  May  God  help  her  in  her  peril !" 

lt  But  can't  you  tell  me  who  are  aboard  ?" 

"  No — not  to  a  brother." 

"  One  word  more — is  there  a  lady  among  them  ?" 

"  See  !  you  can  now  see  the  deck — look  for  yourself." 

The  young  officer  now  earnestly  bent  his  gaze  in  the  direc 
tion,  and,  during  the  next  bright  flash  of  lightning,  could  dis 
tinctly  discern  the  fluttering  garb  of  a  female,  who  appeared 
to  be  clinging  to  a  man,  as  they  stood  holding  on  to  one  of 
the  shrouds  on  the  canted  deck  of  the  wildly  rolling  wreck. 

"  God  of  mercy  protect  them  !"  he  exclaimed  in  tones  that 
betrayed  his  peculiar  anxiety — "But  faster — faster!  skipper 
— more  sail,  or  we  shall  be  too  late  for  the  rescue." 

"  Yes,  boys,  up  with  more  sail.  The  sloop  will  bear  it," 
cried  the  equally  anxious  skipper — "  There,  that  will  do  !" 
he  added  bending  to  the  helm  as  the  goaded  craft  went  sing 
ing  through  the  waves  towards  the  endangered  vessel. 


THE  IRON   FORGE  275 


CHAPTER   XV. 

"  Look  round  the  spot  to  faith  and  firmness  dear,— 
Finds  no  rapt  spirit  fit  incitement  here, — 
Here  where  the  Indian  rov'd  in  nature's  pride, 
Aud  built  his  fires  and  lov'd  and  warr'd  and  died  I" 

ON  the  banks  of  one  of  the  tributaries  of  Taunton  river, 
and  within  the  ancient  limits  of  the  town  bearing  the  same 
name,  stands  one  of  the  oldest  houses  in  New  England.  Hav 
ing  been  originally  constructed  in  the  substantial  and  massive 
style  of  the  English  cottage  architecture  of  the  seventeenth 
century,  when  men,  unlike  those  of  the  present  age  of  lath 
and  plaster,  built  less  for  show  than  durability,  this  ancient 
mansion  is  still,  or  till  recently  was,  in  a  remarkable  state  of 
preservation.  The  builder  of  the  establishment,  whose  name 
has  found  a  place  in  our  histories,  no  less  on  account  of  its 
association  with  that  of  King  Philip,  than  from  the  fact  that 
he  was  the  founder  in  the  new  world  of  one  of  the  most  nu 
merous  and  respectable  families  of  colonial  planting,  was  a  na 
tive  of  the  west  of  England,  and,  having  immigrated  some  time 
during  the  first  twenty  or  thirty  years  of  the  existence  of  the 
colonies,  had  here  erected  the  first  iron  forge  or  smithery  de 
serving  the  name  ever  put  in  operation,  it  is  said,  in  any  part 
of  America.  This  fact  alone  made  it,  for  many  years  after 
its  establishment,  a  place  of  no  little  note  in  the  surrounding 
country;  since  all  classes,  both  white  and  red  men,  were  alike 
compelled  to  resort  here  for  such  kinds  of  smith  work,  as  be 
came  essential  in  their  various  occupations.  The  white  set 
tlers  came  for  their  axes,  hoes,  chains,  and  the  numerous  othe** 


276  THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

tools  and  utensils  required  in  the  prosecution  of  their  differ 
ent  agricultural  or  mechanical  employments.  And  the  red 
men  came  from  their  forest  homes,  lor  hundreds  of  miles 
around,  to  get  their  hatchets  or  tomahawks,  knives,  steel-traps, 
and  fa'sh-spears  made,  and  their  guns  repaired.  This  constant 
intercourse  with  all  kinds  of  persons,  thus  kept  up  for  years 
by  the  proprietor  in  the  business  of  his  calling,  made  him 
personally  known  as  widely  perhaps  as  any  individual  in  all 
the  colonies.  And  had  his  character  and  manner  •  f  dealing 
been  like  too  many  others,  his  situation  in  the  terrible  war 
now  enkindled,  on  the  very  borders  of  a  territory  whose  dark 
forests  were  swarming  with  the  most  active  and  inveterate  of 
the  savage  foe,  might  have  been  fraught  with  peculiar  trials 
and  dangers,  either  from  the  jealou-y  of  his  o^n  people,  who, 
in  their  excitement  and  alarm,  were  often  so  suspicious  as  to 
construe  the  least  indication  of  a  disposition  for  neutral  action 
into  meditated  treason,  or  from  the  bullets  of  the  lurking 
savages,  who  all  knew  him,  and  would  have  availed  themselves 
of  the  circumstance  of  the  war  to  avenge  any  injuries  or  affronts 
they  might  have  previously  received.  But  James  Leonard, 
in  his  character  and  dealings,  and  especially  his  dealings  with 
the  red  men,  was  not  like  those  of  most  others  of  that  day  of 
narrow  philanthrophy  and  religious  arrogance.  His  enlarged 
benevolence  of  heart  and  high  conscientiousness,  together 
with  his  innate  honesty,  led  him  to  make  no  discrimination 
between  the  sin  of  cheating  a  red  man  and  the  sin  of  cheat 
ing  a  white  man.  And  his  dealings  were  alike,  just  and  fair 
with  the  former  as  with  the  latter.  His  whole  conduct  and 
demeanor,  also,  were  equally  kind  and  respectful  towards  the 
one  as  towards  the  other.  And  yet  not  even  the  semblance 
of  a  boast  ever  was  heard  to  pass  his  lips.  The  word,  honesty, 
indeed,  so  far  as  regarded  himself  and  his  dealings,  was  never 
uttered  by  him.  His  moral  creed  was  acted  not  professed. 
And  a  creed  thus  possessed,  and  thus,  and  thus  only,  manifes- 


JAMES  LEONARD  THE  BLACKSMITH.        277 

ted,  was  the  very  tiling  to  enlist  the  admiration  and  gain  the 
confidence  of  the  Indians,  who  are,  perhaps,  the  most  search 
ing  moral  critics,  and  the  closest  and  most  accurate  readers  of 
men  and  their  motives  that  were  ever  known,  among  all  the 
different  races  of  mankind. 

But  among  all  his  red  customers,  there  were  none  who  so 
keenly  appreciated  the  character  and  conduct  of  the  honest 
and  unbigoted  mechanic  as  King  Philip  of  Mount  Hope. 
And  the  appreciation  of  the  discriminating  and  noble  hearted 
chieftain,  continually  enhanced  and  made  effective  as  it  was 
by  the  mental  contrast  which  he  was  forever  drawing  between 
the  treatment  he  had  so  uniformly  received  from  its  object, 
and  that  of  the  arrogant  and  over-reaching  colonists,  whom 
it  had  been  his  fortune  generally  to  encounter,  gradually 
ripened  into  a  lively  arid  solicitous  regard,  amounting  to  a 
friendship,  indeed,  which  the  hostile  relations  that  the  parties 
were  now  compelled  nominally  to  assume,  had  no  power  to 
destroy,  and  which  continued,  and  showed  itself  alike  in 
Words  and  actions,  till  the  last  days  of  his  life, 

To  the  establishment  above  described,  we  must  now  take 
the  reader,  to  introduce  the  new  characters,  and  note  the  new 
events  which  arise  to  mark  the  progress  of  our  story. 

In  the  long,  low,  oak-ceiled  sitting-room  of  the  mansion 
just  described,  on  the  second  evening  after  the  terrible  night 
marked  by  the  fearful  incidents  whose  attempted  portrayal 
occupied  the  last  chapter,  sat  the  worthy  proprietor,  musing 
in  the  twilight,  and  enjoying  that  grateful  repose,  after  the 
active  duties  of  the  day,  which  the  laboring  man  only  can 
ever  know.  He  was  a  man  of  a  strong,  well  made  frame, 
plain  features,  and  a  frank,  kindly,  but  firm  countenance, 
which,  with  his  quiet,  self-possessed  manner,  seemed  equally 
well  calculated  to  win  confidence  and  command  respect.  Not 
sharing  in  the  general  jealousy  and  alarm  which  had  seized 
upon  the  people  living  near  the  borders  of  King  Philip's  do* 


273  THE   DOOMED    CHIEF. 

nrnions,  and  led  hundreds  of  them  tn  desert  their  homes  for 
the  older  settlements,  or  to  immure  themselves  in  block 
houses,  he  had  erected  no  kind  of  defenses  around  his  build 
ings,  kept  no  fire-arms  for  his  own  use,  employed  none  to 
stand  on  the  lookout  to  announce  the  approach  of  suspicious 
personages,  and  manifested  no  apprehensions  when  any  such 
did  approach,  that  they  were  coming  for  evil  either  to  himself 
or  family.  And  it  was  therefore  with  no  disturbance  of  man 
ner,  and  with  an  air  of  mere  enquiry  or  curiosity,  that  he 
now,  as  he  s;it  near  an  open  window,  in  the  listless  attitude 
before  mentioned,  caught  sight  of  an  unknown,  muffled  figure, 
gliding  silently  into  the  door-yard.  The  new  comer,  though 
accoutred  as  much  like  an  Indian  as  a  white  man,  and  though 
the  visible  parts  of  his  skin  were  bronzed  nearly  to  the  color 
of  the  former,  yet  evidently  belonged  to  the  race  of  the  latter; 
while  his  erect  figure,  firm  carriage,  well  formed  intellectual 
features,  and  the  dark,  steady  eye  that  beamed  over  his  thick, 
bushy  beard,  and  from  under  his  once  black,  but  now  deeply 
grizzled  locks,  plainly  showed  him  to  be  a  man  of  decision, 
capacity,  and  of  a  more  than  ordinary  strength  of  character. 
He  paused  a  few  yards  from  the  door,  and  while  affecting  an 
attitude  of  careless  indifference,  sent  a  searching  glance 
around,  and  into  every  visible  part  of  the  building,  in  a  man 
ner  which  seemed  to  indicate  that  he  had  his  private  reasons 
for  wishing  to  know  what  kind  of  company  he  might  be  lia 
ble  to  encounter  if  he  entered  j  when,  appearing  to  satisfy 
himself  on  that  point,  he  unceremoniously  passed  into  the 
door,  and  the  next  moment  stood  before  the  still  undisturbed, 
but  wondering  owner. 

':  Upon  my  word,  friend  Crocker,  T  did  not  till  this  instant 
quite  know  you,"  exclaimed  Leonard,  extending  his  hand  to 
the  other,  with  that  brightening  up  of  countenance  usually 
attending  the  sudden  transition  from  doubt  to  an  agreeable 
recognition.  "  You  return  in  a  new  disguise.  How  have 


CROCKER    AND   17EONARD.  279 

yon  prospered  in  effecting  your  objects  during  the  month  or 
more  elapsed  since  I  saw  you  ?" 

"  For  the  main  part,  wonderfully  well,  considering  the  du 
bious  character  of  the  enterprise;  yea,  wonderfully,  my  dis 
creet  friend — think  I  have  pretty  certainly  narrowed  down  my 
suspicions  to  a  point,  as  regards  money  matters,  and  as  to  the 
other  matter  of  concern  you  and  I  discussed,  before  I  started 
on  the  expedition,  I  found  affairs  worse  than  I  expected  j  but 
that,  at  least,  I  have  effectually  remedied." 

"  How  ?" 

"  The  stranger  here,  with  a  glance  at  the  doors  and  win 
dows,  as  if  doubtful  about  answering  the  question  aloud,  drew 
up  and  whispered  something  in  the  ear  of  the  other,  who,  with 
a  look  of  surprise  and  admiration,  exclaimed  : — 

"  Why,  you  are  as  adventurous  as  the  old  Knight  Errants 
we  read  about  !" 

"  Ay,"  resumed  the  former  ;  "  but  I  have  been  through  as 
many  perils  as  St.  Paul  in  effecting  my  objects." 

"  From  the  Indians  ?" 

"  No — 1  am  hunted  of  white  men,  not  red  ones." 

"  True  ;  but  a  bloody  war  has  broke  out  since  you  went  on 
yonr  hazardous  adventure." 

"  I  know  it  all,  Leonard  ;  and  that  circumstance  may  have 
added  to  my  peculiar  risks,  as  it  certainly  has  to  my  perplex 
ities.  But  I  spoke  not  of  that  \  I  have  been  shipwrecked, 
Leonard." 

"  You  have  ?     Shipwrecked,  did  you  say  ?" 

"  Yea,  sir  ;  but  don't  be  alarmed.  I  and  a  certain  other 
person  were  landed  in  safety." 

"  But  where  is  that  person,  now?" 

"  Dispatched  to  a  place  of  safety,  with  the  safest  of  attend 
ants." 

"  I  think  I  understand  you  in  all  that ;  but  not  when, 
where,  or  how  you  suffered  shipwreck." 


280  THE   DOOMED    CHIEf. 

u  We  were  wrecked  in  the  frightful  storm,  night  before 
last,  on  the  south-eastern  end  of  Aquineck." 

"  Were  all  the  crew  saved  ?" 

"  Yes,  I  conjecture  so — and  the  vessel  too,  probably ;  and 
if  so,  I  shall  be  glad  the  event  occurred." 

"  Then  you  must  have  got  separated  from  the  ship,  some 
how  r 

11  "We  did,  most  strangely,  and  I  will  now  briefly  relate  to 
you  how  we  came  to  be  on  shipboard,  how  our  perilous  passage 
by  water  so  abruptly  ended,  and  why  I  think  it  may  be  well 
that  it  did  so." 

"  Do  so.  You  can  talk  safely  here  now,  I  think  :  but  others 
may  soon  be  about  to  prevent." 

"  I  will,"  replied  the  mysterious  stranger,  throwing  another 
glance  out  of  the  window,  then  drawing  his  chair  near  that 
of  his  host,  and  speaking  in  a  tone  and  manner  which  showed 
that  well  understood  relations  of  confidence  existed  between 
the  two. 

"  I  decided  to  return  mostly  by  water,  because  one  of  the 
few  white  men,  besides  you  and  Roirer  Williams,  who  has  my 
secret,  owns  and  commands  a  small  schooner,  which  he  plies 
between  the  head  of  Buzzard's  Bay  and  the  southern  ports 
and  settlements.  And  he,  offering  to  take  us  round  to  New 
port,  and  then  provide  a  safe  passage  for  us  up  to  Providence, 
or  to  such  other  place  as  I  should  decide  to  go,  we,  after 
many  delays,  embarked  early,  day  before  yesterday  morning, 
and  set  sail  with  a  good  prospect  of  a  run  down  the  bay  that 
would  take  us  to  our  port  before  nightfall.  But  in  the  after 
noon,  we  were  delayed  by  calms,  and  with  the  approach  of 
night,  we  were  overtaken  by  a  terrific  tempest,  which  soon 
disabled  our  craft,  and  at  length  drove  her  out  into  the  broad 
ocean,  rolling  and  tossing  about  almost  wholly  at  the  mercy 
of  the  winds  and  waves,  with  a  rocky  lee  shore  on  our  right, 
towards  which  we  found  ourselves  rapidly  drifting.  But  we 


THE  STRANGER'S  NARRATION.  281 

Were  helpless,  and  could  do  nothing  but  await  in  gloomy  sus 
pense  the  fate  that  seemed  in  store  for  us  all. 

"  That  suspense  was  for  a  short  time  relieved,  it  is  true,  by 
the  appearance  of  a  vessel  which  seemed  to  be  bearing  down 
from  East  Bay,  and  which  our  captain  hoped  would  be  able  to 
take  us  in  tow.  But  in  the  frequent  clear  views  we  ob 
tained  of  her,  in  the  broad  flashes  of  lightning  that  were  con 
tinually  leaping  out  from  the  receding  thunder  cloud,  and 
blazing  far  and  wide  over  the  tumbling  ocean,  our  watchful 
captain  soon  perceived,  and  announced  with  a  tone  of  despair 
that  she  had  tacked  for  a  more  outward  course. i we  by  this 
time  having  been  driven  where  she  no  longer  dared  to  follow. 
It  was  the  captain  of  our  vessel,  as  I  said,  and  the  crew  that 
were  now  filled  with  fear  and  despair,  not  I.  But  for  the  one 
I  had  with  me,  I  would  have  preferred  to  abide  the  risks  of 
shipwreck  to  being  taken  on  board  the  approaching  vessel,  for 
I  had  perceived  her  deck  crowded  with  a  crew  who  were  much 
too  numerous  for  the  purpose  of  working  the  ship,  and  who, 
for  the  most  part,  did  not  look  like  ordinary  Bailors,  and  there 
fore,  must  have  been  there  for  some  special  object,  which  I 
thought  very  likely  concerned  myself. 

"  But  there  was  not  permitted  much  time,  either  to  the 
captain  and  crew  for  indulging  in  their  regrets,  or  to  me  for 
balancing  the  dubious  alternatives  I  was  revolving  in  my  mind. 
Before  we  were  aware  of  our  proximity  to  the  land,  we  were 
whirled  into  a  cove  and  run  aground,  about  a  hundred  yards 
from  the  shore.  The  captain  believing  the  vessel  must  soon 
be  broken  up,  decided  on  trying  to  get  to  the  land  in  our 
ship's  boat;  and,  lowering  and  manning  it  with  two  strong 
Bowers,  assigned  to  me  and  my  companion  the  chance  of  first 
embark  inn;.  This  we  did,  and  starting  on  the  b;tck  of  an  in- 
rolling  wave,  were,  in  three  minutes,  safely  landed  on  the 
narrow  beach  ;  when  we  hastily  retreated  up  the  bank  beyond 
the  reach  of  the  highest  waves,  leaving  the  boat  to  return  foi 


282  THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

the  rest.  But  nathlcss  the  intent,  that,  for  some  wise  order 
ing,  was  not  to  be  permitted.  Just  as  the  boat  reached  the 
schooner,  the  reflux  of  a  mighty  wave,  which  had  lifted  her 
clear  from  the  bottom,  carried  her  out  beyond  the  points 
of  the  cove,  when  a  sudden  flaw  of  wind  from  offshore  strik 
ing  her,  she  was  driven  out  faster  than" she  came  in,  and  was 
soon  seen  nearing  the  other  vessel  that  appeared  to  be  laying 
to  in  the  distance,  either  to  assist  us,  or — " 

"  But  you  two  ?"  interposed  the  other  with  an  air  of  surprise 
at  the  calmness  of  the  narrator  in  describing  the  affair — 
"  What  was  your  situation,  thus  deserted  and  left  alone  in  the 
night  on  that  woody,  uninhabited  shore  ?" 

"  Alone  !  Why,  fur  myself  I  desired  to  be  alone.  Night 
and  woods!  "Why,  sir,  for  long,  long  years,  they  have  been 
my  best  safeguards  !  And  my  companion,  even,  might  have 
had  reasons  to  face  them  all,  in  preference  to  falling  in  with 
the  other  ship's  company.  But  we  were  not  left  to  remain 
there  alone,  as  we  certainly  at  first  supposed  we  were  to  be. 
A  half  dozen  red  warriors  soon  came  gliding  to  our  side." 

"  And  were  you  not  alarmed,  then  ?" 

"  No,  the  very  thing  I  should  have  wished  had  occurred; 
for  in  the  leader  of  the  band  arrayed  in  one  of  his  many  per 
fect  disguises,  I  thankfully  recognized  the  sagacious  and  true 
hearted  man  who  has  been  my  constant  friend  and  protector 
from  the  first  year  of  my  ostracism.  To  you,  I  need  not  call 
his  name." 

"  No,  but  how  came  he  and  his  men  there  ?" 

"  WThy  it  seems,  as  I  afterwards  gathered  from  him  by 
piecemeal,  that  a  smart  battle  had  been  fought  that  afternoon 
up  near  the  Narrows  of  East  Bay,  between  a  company  of 
Plymouth  troops,  who  had  boldly  penetrated  into  the  heart 
of  Queen  Wetamoo's  dominions,  and  a  band  of  her  warriors, 
that  had  pursued  them  to  the  shore,  where,  after  making  a 
desperate  stand,  they  were  taken  off  by  the  same  vessel  whose 


PRAISES    OF   CAPTAIN    WILLIS.  283 

nppearance  had  puzzled  me  as  she  came  so  near  us  in  tho 
offing.  And  King  Philip,  who,  with  his  warriors,  was  wait 
ing  the  result  in  the  vicinity,  having  been  informed  by  run 
ners  of  the  unexpected  escape  of  the  intruders,  and  supposing 
they  would  be  landed  somewhere  on  the  opposite  shore,  hud 
crossed  over  with  part  of  his  force  in  canoes,  at  the  Narrows 
above,  to  intercept  them  j  when  on  seeing  the  vessel  on  the 
move  down  the  Bay,  he  kept  pace  with  her,  stationing  men 
at  intervals  along  the  shore,  while  he  with  a  select  band  pro 
ceeded  on  till  he  witnessed  from  a  neighboring  projection 
their  escape  into  the  open  sea,  as  well  as  the  singular  event, 
attending  our  vessel,  by  which  I  and  my  companion  were 
brought  to  land." 

"  We  heard  of  that  battle  here  yesterday,  but  nothing  of 
the  subsequent  movements  of  King  Philip,  which  you  have 
named.  It  was  lucky  for  his  opponents,  that  they  had  not 
been  landed  as  he  expected,  else  they  must  have  fallen  into 
his  hands." 

"  Doubtless  they  would,  but  I  would  like  to  know  who  are 
that  company;  and  especially  the  man  who  commanded  them 
with  such  evident  fearlessness  and  fortune?" 

They  are  a  company  of  hardy  young  woodsmen,  who,  on 
the  first  alarm,  all  promptly  volunteered  to  serve  under  their 
equally  young  commander,  Captain  Willis,  who,  though  act 
ing  with  his  men  in  a  mere  voluntary  capacity,  not  being  in 
favor  enough  at  the  court  of  Plymouth  to  procure  a  commis 
sion,  has  yet  already  done  more  in  keeping  the  enemy  in 
check  than  all  the  regularly  commissioned  companies  put  to 
gether.  And  since  this  last  bold  exploit,  the  whole  country 
is  ringing  with  his  praises." 

"  Aye,  you  interest  me  in  the  man,  friend  Leonard.  The 
fact  that  he  could  not,  or  did  not,  get  a  commission  from  the 
L>iiiot  leaders  at  Plymouth,  with  me  argues  in  his  praise,  in 
stead  of  disparagement,  at  the  very  outset.  But  if  the  newsi 


284  THE   DOOMED    CHIEF. 

of  this  battle  was  bruited,  so  as  to  re;icli  here  yesterday,  as 
you  say,  then  (he  vessel  that  had  them  on  board,  when  she 
crossed  our  path,  must  have  got  into  Newport  with  them  that 
night?" 

"  She  did,  as  I  understood,  and  brought  with  her  in  tow*  a 
dismasted  vessel,  which  was  doubtless  the  one  from  which  you 
were  landed  in  the  storm." 

"  It  may  be  so, — it  must  be  so,"  said  the  stranger  musingly  j 
yet  I  would  like  to  know  what  course  this  young  leader  then 
took  with  his  band, — did  you  learn  T' 

"  Yes, — they  were  about  to  take  to  the  woods  to  scour  the 
coast  opposite  to  the  battle  ground  the  day  before,  suspecting, 
probably,  the  Indians  would  come  over  as  you  say  they  did, — 
but  learning " 

"That  may  have  been  their  object;  and  they  mny  have 
had  another.  The  indications  still  puzzle  me.  But  they 
changed  their  purpose,  you  were  about  to  say  ?" 

"  Yes, — learning  that  a  body  of  Indians  were  threatening 
Dartmouth,  they  came  up  in  boats,  and,  forgetting  the  fa 
tigues  and  dangers  they  had  gone  through  the  day  and  ni^ht 
before,  pushed  on  vigorously  at  once  for  that  place,  which,  it 
was  thought,  they  would  reach  considerably  in  advance  of  the 
regular  companies,  who  had  commenced  moving  for  the  same 
destination  round  by  the  roads,  that  morning." 

"  Doubtless  they  will,  if  they  took  woodmen's  direct  cour 
ses,  and  their  leader  is  what  you  describe  him, — Willis, — you 
are  sure  this  young  leader's  name  is?" 

"  Aye,  Vane  Willis  is  his  name." 

"  I  have  learned  something  about  him  this  trip,  but  never 
saw  him,  as  he  has  come  on  to  the  sta«re  of  action  since  I  was 
abroad  in  the  colonies.  And  from  what  [  have  gathered  from 
you,  and  what  I  noticed  of  Metacom'a  evident  anxiety,  at  least 
to  keep  trace  of  his  movements,  I  should  deem  him  a  person 
who  must  soon  be  conspicuous  in  the  contest.  And  I  should 


THE  POUCH   REPLENISHED.  285 

not  be  surprised  if  he  and  Metacorn  were  hereafter  to  be 
known  as  the  two  great  heroes  of  the  war.  Yet  would  to 
Heaven  there  had  been  no  occasion  for  displays  of  courage, 
and  warlike  skill  on  the  part  of  either.  And  had  justice  «md 
honesty  prevailed  at  the  court  of  Plymouth,  instead  of  bigotry 
and  wrong,  there  would  have  been  none;  for  you  and  I  know, 
Leonard,  that  this  war  has  been  most  unnecessarily, — most 
wickedly  provoked/' 

"  I  may  have  opinions  which  it  were  wiser  to  entertain  in 
silence  than  openly  express,  especially  if  I  would  live  here  in 
peace  with  my  own  race,  while  declining  to  join  them  in  a 
war  upon  another  race,  who  have  never  injured  me  or  mine. 
This  luckless  war  has  placed  me  in  a  painful  position.  This 
you  will  the  more  readily  feel,  since  you,  yourself,  are  brought 
by  the  same  means,  as  you  have  already  intimated,  into  a  situa 
tion  of  equal,  if  not  greater  difficulties." 

"  Greater, — far  greater.  To  take  up  arms  against  the  men 
of  rny  own  blood,  though  hunted  by  them  like  a  wild  beast,  is 
what  [  cannot  do;  and  to  take  up  arms  against  the  red  m<jn, 
who  have  so  long  protected  arid  concealed  me,  is  what  I  will 
not  do.  To  go  and  reside  among  the  former,  is  but  to  court 
the  doom  they  have  hung  over  me  :  while  to  remain  among 
the  latter  and  be  found  with  them,  as  the  chances  of  war  will 
constantly  make  me  liable  to  be,  can  result  no  better.  It  is  a 
perplexing  strait.  And  it  was  the  object  of  consulting  you 
on  the  matter,  and  replenishing  my  purse  a  little,  which  now 
brought  me  here." 

"The  last  named  of  your  wishes  can  speedily  be  complied 
with  ;  and  while  attending  to  it,  as  I  had  better  do  at  once,  I 
will  be  considering  the  other.  Give  us  your  leathern  pouch. 
Bow  much  will  you  take  this  time?" 

"  Not  a  great  quantity.  I  don't  want  to  be  cumbered  with 
over  a  pound  in  weight,  and  a  good  share  of  that  in  the 
smaller  coins,  if  you  please." 


THE    DOOMED    CHIEF. 

Taking  the  capacious  purse  of  dressed  deer-skin* which  tho 
stranger  now  drew  forth  and  handed  him,  Leonard  descended 
to  the  cellar,  and,  proceeding  to  a  dark  and  distant  corner, 
raised  one  of  the  broad  flagstones  of  the  flooring  on  to  its 
side  against  the  wall.  Beneath  this  lay  a  thinner  flat  stone, 
which  he  also  raised,  and  disclosed  a  small,  rusty,  iron  chest, 
sitting  in  a  concealed  vault  below,  but  little  more  than 
sufficient  to  contain  it.  Unlocking  the  chest,  which  appeared 
to  be  about  half  filled  with  various  kinds  of  English  and 
Dutch  coins,  he  selected  the  required  kinds  and  quantity, 
carefully  made  all  fast,  returned,  and  handed  the  purse  to  the 
stranger,  who,  while  concealing  it  benea'th  his  dress,  asked — 

"The  deposit  holds  out  yet,  does  it,  Leonard?" 

"Oh,  yes — not  more  than  half  exhausted,  probably." 

"So  much  the  better.  Wit.li  my  late  glimpses  of  altered 
prospects,  my  thoughts  begin  to  go  for  economizing  my  fund, 
which  before  I  cared  nothing  for.  But  now  for  the  other  part 
of  my  business.  What  would  you  advise?" 

"  I  hardly  know,  unless  you  go  beyond  the  limits  of  this 
wretched  warfare,  to  some  southern  settlement,  where  you 
could  not  be  identified  by  any  body.v 

"  That  were  doubtless  advisable,  but  for  the  necessity  of  my 
being  now  often  in  this  part  of  the  country  to  receive  and 
answer  the  letters  passing  under  cover  between  me  and  my 
secret  agent  abroad.  Still,  I  would  be  in  a  place  of  safety; 
for  though,  six  months  ago,  I  would  scarcely  turn  on  my  heel 
to  save  my  life,  yet  now  I  begin  to  feel  I  have  something  to 
live  for." 

"Then  you  feel  confident  of  success  there?" 

"  I  am  assured  I  may  do  so." 

"That  is  the  main  thing.  But,  should  that  object  be 
accomplished,  will  you  then  have  the  means  of  effecting  the 
restoration  of  your  rights  here?" 

— that  was  what  I   meant  when    hinting  about   the 


ENTRANCE  OF  METACOM.  287 

discoveries  I  had  made  in  my  journey.  I  found  and  took  into 
possession  papers  which  I  feared  had  been  lost' or  purloined, 
and  which,  I  think,  cannot  fail  to  establish  the  right  and 
bring  terrible  retribution  for  the  wrong.  Ah  !  the  traitor 
robber  little  thinks  he  is  now  standing  on  a  mine  which  will 
soon  explode  beneath  his  feet." 

At  this  stage  of  the  conversation,  the  door  was  gently 
pushed  open,  and  a  tall,  stately  figure,  dressed  in  the  usual 
garb  of  a  sailor,  noiselessly  glided  into  the  room  without  word 
or  ceremony.  As  the  rays  of  the  dimly  burning  candle,  which 
had  been  lighted  for  the  little  business  transaction  just  nar 
rated,  fell  on  his  shapely  features,  which,  by  some  application 
to  the  skin,  had  been  brought  to  the  hue  of  the  white  man, 
he  would  readily  have  been  taken  by  ordinary  observers — 
unless  something  peculiar  about  his  deportment  had  betrayed 
him  — for  a  stout,  good  looking  seaman.  Carefully  closing  the 
door  behind  him,  he  stood  a  moment  and  met  the  inquiring 
glances  of  Leonard  and  his  guest  with  a  knowing  smile,  when 
he  advanced,  and  laying  his  hand  on  the  shoulder  of  the 
latter,  quietly  and  in  a  low  tone  remarked — 

"All  done  you  wished — all  rij;ht — all  safe,  Crocker." 

"Thank  you,  Metacom,"  replied  the  latter.  "You  have 
done  me  a  service.  Let  me  pay  you  some  money  this 
time?" 

"  No,"  promptly  responded  the  chief,  with  a  quick,  repel 
lent  gesture.  "No;  keep  that  to  make  the  white  man  do 
good  for  you,  Crocker,"  he  added,  withdrawing  his  hand  ;  and 
laying  it,  in  turn,  on  Leonard's  shoulder,  smilingly  asked — 

"  Leonard   is   well?      The   Indians   have    not    killed    him 

jra?" 

"  No,  Metacom,"  replied  the  other  with  the  air  of  one  about 
to  qualify  his  answer.  "  Killed  any  of  your  family  ?"  persisted 
tb.3  chief  in  the  same  significant  tone  and  .manner.  "  Killed 


288  THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

any  of  the  name  of  Leonard  ?     Touched  so  much  as  one  hair 
of  their  heads,  ever  ?" 

"  No,"  rejoined  Leonard,  "  I  have  not  feared  that — it  is 
not  that." 

"  No,"  pursued    Metacom,  with   emphasis — "  no,  nor  ever 
will — Leonards  always  safe,  though  every  other  white  man  of 
the  colony  die,  and  every  other  house  burn,  they  all  sale,  their 
houses  and  property  safe  always  from  the  red  man,  who  never 
makes  war  on  those  that  use  him  well." 

"  I  know  your  good  will  towards  me  and  mine,  Metacom/' 
said  the  other,  kindly;  "  but  why,  oh  why,  would  you  come 
here  at  such  a  time  as  this  ?" 

"  I  came  to  tell  you  what  I  just  say,  that  you  are  safe,"  re 
plied  the  chief,  earnestly,  "  safer  than  the  governor  in  his 
house  at  Plymouth  ;  because  I  feared  they  would  make  you 
believe  you  were  in  danger,  and  so  lead  you  to  do  something 
to  anger  my  people." 

"  I  hope  they  will  not  drive  me  to  that,"  responded  the 
other,  in  a  deprecating  tone  ;  ''  but  they  begin  to  look  coldly 
on  me,  because  I  will  not  join  them  in  throwing  all  the  blame 
of  the  war  on  you.  And  they  seem  to  expect  I  should  assist 
them  in  hunting  you  down,  or  informing  where  you  may  be 
found.  Did  you  know  they  have  offered  a  large  money  re 
ward  to  any  who  shall  take  or  kill  you  ?" 

"  Ah  !"  exclaimed  Metacom,  starting  and  recoiling  a  step, 
hut  quickly  recovering.  "Ah,  that's  so.  Well,"  he  con 
tinued,  with  a  slightly  sardonic  laugh,  while  he  bent  a  keen, 
searching  look  upon  the  face  of  the  other — "  well,  does  Leon 
ard  want  money  ?  If  he  does,  Metacom  is  here,  and  his 
heart  would  make  him  weak  as  a  child,  if  his  friend  Leonard 
should  put  out  a  hand  to  take  him." 

*•  I  shall  never  try  to  make  you  a  prisoner,  or  assist  others 
to  do  it,  Metacom,"  said  Leonard,  touched  by  the  visible 
emotion  which  the  other  exhibited  in  his  last  remark. 


METACOM   AND   LEONARD. 

"  Leonard  can  shoot  Metacom  then,  if  he  desire  not  to 
make  him  prisoner,"  resumed  the  hunted  chief,  in  the  same 
mingled  tone  of  melting  and  reproach.  "  Metacom  will  wait 
till  you  go  to  the  shop  for  a  gun.  Your  people  make  it  right 
if  no  reward — if  any  Indian  be  found  without  gun,  and  peace 
able,  your  people  muke  it  all  right  to  kill  him.  The  court  of 
Plymouth  make  fine  five  shillings  for  white  man  to  shoot  a 
guo  at  a  rabbit,  deer,  bear,  and  everything  but  wolf  and  In 
dian  ;  so  all  right  Leonard,  Metacom  will  wait."* 

"  0  Metacom  !  Metacom  !"  exclaimed  Leonard,  with  in 
creasing  emotion  and  distress,  "  how  you  wrong  me  !  But 
you  don't  mean  it;  for  you  don't  understand  why  I  spoke  of 
the  reward.  I  named  it  because  the  white  men  are  on  the 
watch  for  you.  And  if  they  discover  that  you  come  here, 
they  will  call  me  a  traitor  for  harboring  you,  arid  punish  me 
for  not  betraying  you.  So,  by  coming  here,  you  not  only  en 
danger  your  own  life,  but  make  me  liable  to  great  trouble. 
O  Metacom,  cannot  this  war,  which  is  so  painful  to  me,  be 
brought  to  an  end  ?  Can  you  not  yet  listen  to  proposals  for 
peace  ?" 

"  Listen  to  proposals  of  peace  !"  exclaimed  the  chief,  his 
eyes  flashing,  and  his  nostrils  distending  at  the  painful 
thoughts  and  associations  which  the  unexpected  question 
evoked  from  the  depths  of  his  embittered  soul — "  listen  to 
new  proposals  of  peace  from  the  court  of  Plymouth  !  Has 
not  Metacom  been  listening  for  years  to  their  proposals  of 
peace,  but  to  be  mocked  by  treaties  made  purpose  for  white 
man  to  break,  and  only  for  red  man  to  keep  ?  These  are  the 

*Soon  after  the  commencement  of  this  war.  the  court  of  Plymouth  issued 
the  following  curious  ordinance,  which  we  copy  verbatim  et  literatim  frctu 
their  records — 

"  It  is  ordered  by  the  Court  that  whosouer  shall  shoot  off  any  gun  on  any 
nessarie  oc-cation,  or  attany  game  whatsouer,  except  attan  Indian  or  a  wuolfe, 
ehall  forfeite  five  shillings  for  any  such  shot,  till  further  libertie  be  giuen." 


290  THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

only  treaties  they  want — the  only  treaties  Metacom  ever  get. 
The  only  peace  they  will  have  is  the  peace  that  gives  them  to 
make  slaves  of  the  red  men.  But  the  Great  Spirit  never 
make  red  men  to  be  slaves  and  live.  Then  no  peace — no, 
never,  Leonard,  till  your  God  make  over  white  man  to  be  hon 
est  as  Indian — till  white  man  be  ready  to  call  Indian  brother. 
Then  peace  between  white  men  and  red  men — easy  made, 
easy  kept.  From  the  great  lakes  to  the  sea,  all  peace — peace 
everywhere  the  sun  shines  down  on  the  two  peoples,  then 
wanting  of  each  other  no  more  than  they  ready  to  do  or  give 
themselves." 

"  I  could  wish  I  were  better  able  to  gainsay  the  truth  of 
much  of  what  you  assert,  Metacom,"  responded  Leonard,  after 
a  thoughtful  pause;  "  but,  as  good  a  cause  of  war  as  you  may 
suppose  you  have,  I  don't  see  how  you  can  expect  long  to 
maintain  your  ground  against  the  troops  of  the  colonies,  now 
all  united  to  crush  you.  They  are  paid  and  regularly  kept 
supplied  with  provisions  ;  so  that  their  armies  can  be  kept 
constantly  in  the  field.  Your  men  have  no  pay,  and  no  cer 
tain  supplies.  They  have  already  driven  you  from  Montaup, 
and  destroyed  all  your  growing  corn.  How  then  can  you 
keep  your  warriors  together  after  the  warm  weather  is  over  ?" 

"  Metacom  has  an  answer.  When  the  Plymouth  troops 
destroyed  all  our  much  and  beautiful  corn  at  Montaup,  and 
thought  to  starve  our  people,  so  that  our  warriors  could  not 
be  kept  together  to  trouble  them,  they  forgot  that  just  so  much 
of  Metacom's  corn  as  they  destroyed  this  summer,  must  come 
out  of  their  own  villages  next  winter  to  feed  his  people,  and 
they  will  be  very  lucky  if  they  see  no  more  trouble  than 
the  loss  of  their  corn  when  his  warriors  come  to  get  it.  They 
forgot  too,  that  the  red  warriors  have  no  need  to  be  kept  to 
gether,  like  their  own,  to  make  them  the  worst  trouble.  They 
forgot  how  they  have  some  time  heard  the  lone,  still  going 
wolf,  when  he  find  the  great  game,  raise  his  long  howl  to  the 


NO  INDIAN   WORD   FOR   "SLAVE."  291 

sky,  and  every  hill  top  and  dark  swamp,  far  away  round  send 
back  the  hungry  answer  cry  of  the  scattered  troop  of  his  swift 
footed  brothers,  telling  him  how  quick  they  will  be  there  to 
help  him.  They  forgot  this  ;  and  more,  they  forgot  there  is 
not  a  beast  in  the  forest  from  which  the  red  man  refuses  to 
take  a  lesson  of  wisdom." 

"  Your  words  have  a  dark  and  terrible  meaning,  Metacorn," 
said  the  other  shuddering.  "  God  avert  the  calamities  they 
foreshadow.  But  suppose/'  he  continued,  reverting  to  the 
persuasive  argument  on  which  he  had  ventured,  to  see  if  he 
could  not  turn  the  proud  chief  from  his  fearful  purposes — 
"  But  suppose  you  should  triumph — even  to  the  extent  of 
desolating  the  country,  do  y<>u  not  know  that  King  James 
would  never  consent  to  lose  his  colonies  here,  but  would  send, 
over  large  armies,  which  must  soon  overpower  and  destroy 
your  people  1" 

"  Never  !"  exclaimed  the  immovable  chief,  drawing  himself 
up  to  his  full  height,  and  raising  his  hand  as  if  to  invoke  the 
Great  Spirit  to  attest  his  terrible  resolution — "  never  !  While 
the  great  wilderness  from  here  to  the  setting  sun  has  cave  or 
rocky  den  left  to  hide  the  wolf  or  the  bear,  or  tangled  swamp 
to  make  a  home  for  the  panther,  never  will  the  red  man  tamely 
yield  to  the  rule  of  the  white  man,  but  retreat  from  cave  to 
cave  and  swamp  to  swamp,  fighting  for  his  home  and  for  his 
freedom  as  he  goes;  for  he  has  learned  the  bitter  lesson  that 
to  yield  is  to  be  a  slave.  Our  language  has  no  word  that 
means  'slave/  Leonard.*  We  never  dreamed  there  could  be 
one  till  we  saw  the  white  man." 

11  Then  your  people,  I  fear,  must  eventually  perish  from 
the  land/'  rejoined  Leonard  with  a  sigh. 

"  It  is  well,"  said  the  chief.  "  The  Wampanoog  at  least 
can  die  no  better." 

*  It  is  snid  to  be  a  remarkable  fact  that  none  of  the  dialects  of  the  origi 
nal  Indian  language  contained  a  word  signifying  a  slave. 


THE    DOOMED    CHIEF. 

As  Leonard  was  about  to  respond,  a  sudden  start  of  the 
chief,  with  a  hasty  gesture  of  Crocker,  as  if  to  impose  .silence, 
arrested  his  attention  }  when,  after  a  pause,  lie  turned  to  them 
and  in  an  undertone  said — 

"  What  is  it  ? — What  do  you  think  you  hear,  that  disturbs 
you  ?" 

"  He  thinks  he  heard  footsteps  round  the  house  ;  and  if  I 
err  not  greatly,  I  heard  the  same,"  replied  Crocker,  with  an 
'uneasy  look  ;  while  the  chief  kept  silent,  with  his  head  dropped 
in  the  attitude  of  intense  listening. 

"  It  may  be  my  boys  not  abed  yet,"  suggested  Leonard, 
though  careful  to  extinguish  the  candle. 

"  No — it  is  no  boys  make  that,"  quickly  returned  the  chief. 
"  No,  nor  Indian  ;  but  the  steps  of  white  men  when  they 
have  design.  Do  they  mean  me,  or  you,  Crocker?" 

"  Me,  doubtless,  I  think,"  answered  the  latter.  "  There 
are  those  feeling  a  keener  interest  in  my  destruction,  than  any 
in  yours,  and  I  fear  my  secret  excursion  may  in  some  way 
have  given  them  the  means  of  identifying  and  so  tracing  me 
to  this  place.  Nobody  would  dream  of  your  being  here  at 
this  time,  or  would  have  detected  you  in  that  guise  had  they 
seen  you  on  the  way." 

"Crocker  is  right,"  responded  the  other;  "  but  he  shall 
not  be  left  alone  to  die,  or  be  taken,  while  Metacom  has  a  well 
arm  that  can  be  lifted  to  save  him." 

"  Thank  you,  Metacom,"  responded  Crocker,  warmly.  "  I 
may  need  your  help.  But  how  many  does  your  ear  tell  you 
there  are  of  them  ?" 

"  May  be  half-dozen  near  the  house,  and  maj  be  some  more 
keeping  back  little  way,"  was  the  reply. 

"  What  course  do  you. think  they  will  be  likely  to  take?" 
asked  the  former,  anxiously. 

"Think  they  already  got  station  round  the  house,  and 
waiting  now  for  signal  to  rush  in,"  answered  the  latter. 


ATTEMPTED   ESCAPE   OF   CROCKER.  293 

"  Then  it  were  my  lesser  risk  to  anticipate  their  intention, 
by  trying  to  break  through  their  ring  arid  escape  to  the 
woods,"  promptly  said  Crocker. 

The  whispered  consultation  that  now  ensued  between  these 
two  brave  and  high-souled,  but  unrelentingly  persecuted  men, 
whom  circumstances,  as  diverse  as  were  the  races  from  which 
they  came,  had  thus  brought  together  in  the  closest  bonds  of 
sympathy  and  friendship,  speedily  resulted  in  the  arrange 
ment  that  they  both,  in  the  first  instance,  should  only  show 
and  use  the  heavy  oaken  staffs  which  they  had  brought  there 
and  set  aside  as  they  entered  the  house.  But  should  they 
themselves  be  assaulted  with  the  more  murderous  weapons, 
then  the  knives  and  pistols  which  they  carried  concealed 
beneath  their  dresses  should  be  used  with  all  the  effect  which 
cool  heads  and  practised  hands  could  give  to  them.  It  was 
agreed,  also,  that  Crocker,  as  he  had  before  intimated,  should 
be  the  first  to  issue  from  the  house,  and  then  do  his  best  to 
break  through  the  ranks  of  whatever  assailing  foes  he  might 
encounter  in  his  path,  while  Metacom  should  follow  close 
enough  in  the  rear  to  be  ready  for  any  needed  rescue.  And 
having  thus  settled  the  details  of  their  hasty  arrangement,  and 
agreed  on  a  place  of  meeting  at  the  border  of  the  neighboring 
forest,  in  case  they  became  separated  in  the  expected  affray, 
the  former  noiselessly  took  his  position  by  the  side  of  the 
door,  which  he  had  carefully  opened  to  favor  a  quick  sally, 
and  stood  a  few  minutes  cautiously  peering  out,  and  settling 
for  himself  the  best  mode  of  egress,  and  the  direction  then, 
to  be  taken  promising  the  best  facilities  for  an  escape.  Pre 
sently,  however,  he  shot  out  like  an  arrow  into  the  dimly  seen 
sp-ice  forming  the  broad,  open  yard  round  the  buildings,  and 
glided  stealthily  but  rapidly  forward  towards  the  highway, 
about  a  dozen  rods  from  the  door  from  which  he  had  made  his 
gudden  exit.  But  he  had  not  proceeded  half  that  distance 
before  the  alarm  was  given,  and  the  sharp  cries  of  "  Look  out 


294  THE   DOOMED    CHIEF. 

there!  he  is  escaping!  seize  him!  seize  him!"  rang  out  on  the 
stillness  of  the  night  j  and  the  next  instant  a  half-dozen  dark 
forms,  leaping  out  from  their  hiding-places  round  the  house, 
were  seen  swiftly  converging  into  line  and  bounding  forward 
in  hot  pursuit  of  the  fugitive.  The  latter,  however,  having 
now  gained  the  highway,  and  putting  himself  to  his  utmost 
speed,  seemed  in  a  fair  way  of  distancing  his  pursuers,  when 
another  cry  of  "Head  him!  there  he  comes!  head  him,  Dick!" 
was  raised  from  behind  him;  and  peering  forward,  he  dis 
cerned  a  man  advancing,  with  flurried  motions,  directly  in  hia 
path,  and  hastily  handling  some  kind  of  a  musket,  with  the 
evident  intent  of  shooting  him  down  on  a  nearer  approach. 
With  a  few  rapid  feints  to  confuse  the  new  assailant,  and  pre 
vent  him  from  getting  any  certain  aim,  the  now  doubly  beset 
fugitive  sprang  upon  him  with  the  suddenness  of  a  tiger, 
knocked  down  the  threatening  weapon  with  one  blow  of  his 
cudgel,  and  with  another  laid  its  owner  sprawling  upon  the 
earth.  But  the  delay  thus  occasioned  gave  his  pursuers  in 
the  rear  an  advantage,  which  brought  them  to  his  back  before 
he  could  turn  to  face  or  elude  them  ]  and  the  next  instant  the 
whole  gang  were  upon  him,  and,  in  spite  of  all  his  desperate 
efforts  to  free  himself,  fast  bearing  him  to  the  ground,  when 
suddenly,  groan  after  groan,  mingled  with  cries  of  surprise 
and  alarm,  burst  in  rapid  succession  from  their  lips.  The 
avenger,  in  the  shape  of  the  strong-armed  chief,  was  at  their 
heels,  bringing  down  upon  their  unguarded  heads  and  limbs  a 
shower  of  blows  so  quick  and  powerful,  that,  before  they  could 
recover  from  their  surprise,  seize  the  guns  they  had  dropped 
in  the  melee,  and  put  themselves  on  the  defensive,  every  man 
of  them  was  too  much  disabled  or  alarmed  to  offer  resistance; 
and  they  all  fled,  limping  and  howling  with  pain  and  rage, 
away  from  the  spot,  leaving  their  arms  as  a  welcome  trophy 
to  the  gallant  and  true-hearted  chief,  who  had  so  adroitly  won 
them  while  effecting  the  more  important  object  of  rescuing 


WHO   ARE    THE    KIDNAPPERS?  295 

his   friend   from   the   grasp  of   a   despicable   band  of   kid 
nappers. 

But  who  were  those  kidnappers,  who  had  thus  attempted  to 
seize  or  slay  their  intended  victim  without  show  of  right  or 
authority,  and  who  could,  only  by  the  most  untiring  efforts 
of  a  secret  espionage,  have  discovered  and  traced  him  to 
this  place  through  his  strangely  varied  journey  by  sea  and 
land,  and  that,  too,  as  was  evident,  under  a  deep  disguise  ? 
Aye,  who  were  they,  and  by  whom  and  for  what  dark  purpose 
instigated  ?  The  developments  of  next  chapter  may  furnish 
clues,  perhaps,  to  the  answers  of  eome  of  the  questions,  at 
least,  which  the  reader  will  here  very  naturally  join  us  iu 
asking. 


296  THE  DOOMED   CHIEF. 


CHAPTER    XYI. 

"  Some  meii  are  what  they  name  not  to  themselves, 
And  trust  not  to  each  other." 

WHILE  the  mysterious  occurrence  narrated  at  the  close  of 
the  last  chapter  was  taking  place,  a  scene  of  a  more  quiet,  but 
no  less  significant  character  was  in  progress  at  a  small,  deserted 
house,  on  the  road  a  few  miles  to  the  eastward. 

In  the  yard  of  that  lone  tenement,  on  the  evening  in  ques 
tion,  might  have  been  seen  through  the  hour  of  twilight,  a 
solitary  man,  in  whose  peculiar,  fat,  stumpy  figure,  nervous, 
waddling  gait,  and  quick,  uneasy  motions,  no  one,  who  had 
ever  seen  him,  need  have  failed  to  recognize  one  of  the  most 
prominent  personages  of  the  fore  part  of  our  story,  the  noted 
Beacon  Mudgridge  of  Plymouth.  He  was  restlessly  pacing 
forward  and  backward,  with  an  occasional  anxious  glance  up 
the  road  westward,  while  his  moving  lips  and  pantomimic  ges 
tures  showed  the  passing  of  unspoken  thoughts  that  seemed 
laboring  for  utterance.  And  at  length  those  thoughts,  with 
their  accompanying  anxieties,  becoming  apparently  too  intense 
to  be  longer  repressed,  found  vent  in  broken  soliloquy  : — 

"  The  loitering  knaves,  why  don't  they  come,  or  some  one 
of  them,  to  report  to  me?  It  is  time  they  had  done  some 
thing.  I  doubt  me  whether  they  are  all,  put  together,  equal 
to  that  old  praying  Wampanoog.  Ah,  that,  was  rare  luck  ! — 
luck  ?  It  must  be  Providence  th;it  sent  him  to  me,  and  I 
think  I  can  safely  take  the  sending  ns  heavenly  sanction  of 
the  enterprise  I've  now  put  my  hand  to — yea,  rare  luck,  I  do 
declare,  to  have  thus  lit  on  such  a  God-sent  instrument;  who, 


SOLILOQUY    OF    THE    DEACON.  297 

peradventure,  was  the  only  one  in  the  whole  country,  who  had 
seen  and  known  this  mnn  of  urn  botli  among  the  whites  and 
Indians  !  Rare  luck,  likewise,  that  the  sharp  eyed  heathen 
discovered  the  game  embarking,  and  learned  his  destination  to 
Newport,  and  so  exactly  conjectured  what  course  he  would 
take  after  landing  ;  and  rarer  still  to  have  hit  on  his  trail,  and 
dog  him  to  that  place  so  near  where  he  had  advised  my  ren 
dezvous.  And  what  a  marvelous  swift  runner  he  must  be  to 
have  come  so  quick  to  Plymouth,  to  notify  me  of  his  discov 
ery — then  speed  to  Staunton  river,  follow  up  his  game  to  the 
cage — hie  here  to  notify  rne,  and  then  back  with  my  men  for 
the  capture — and  all  in  time  ! 

"  Why,  he  would  surpass  the  Amalekite  runner  that  brought 
the  news  of  the  death  of  his  yreat  enemy  to  David.  But  I 
will  not  serve  him  as  David  did  that  runner.  No,  I  will  pay  him 
well,  if  we  succeed.  Succeed?  Why  we  must  succeed.  Could 
anything  but  Providence  have  so  singularly  brought  about 
the  discovering  and  the  tracing  out  of  the  heaven  offending 
wretch,  who  was  doubtless  moved  by  the  same  power  to  come 
abroad  from  his  lurking  places  in  order  that  he  might  be  des 
troyed  ?  And  shall  I,  a  chosen  leader  of  the  church,  with  the 
sword  of  justice,  as  it  were,  put  in  my  hand  to  execute  its 
God-suggested  judgments — shall  I  hesitate  to  act  on  such 
plain  indications  of /iuty  ?  Who  am  I,  that  I  should,  by 
timid  doubtings,  and  refusing  to  act,  thus  in  effect  thwart  the 
will  of  heaven  ? 

"  But  the  private  motives  thereto  moving,  they  will  say — 
'Who  said  that?'  Sathan  !  Thou  shalt  not  baffle  me  by 
starting  such  cowardly  misgivings  !  And  suppose  I  had 
private  interest,  am  I  who  have  been  such  an  arm 
of  sufficiency  in  building  up  our  Israel,  am  I  to  receive 
no  favorings  in  the  things  pertaining  to  private  interests 
— no  reward  for  such  continued  holy  labors,  I  should  like 
to  know?  Again,  is  it  not  solemn  duty  to  lend  our- 


298  THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

selves  as  instruments,  on  proper  indications  given,  as  in 
this  case,  to  assist  in  the  overthrow  of  the  apostle  of  tho 
church's  enemies  ?  I  tell  you,  John  Mudgridge,  you  are  jus 
tified — nay,  praise-worthy,  in  moving  in  this  matter  thus  con 
nected  with  the  temporal  and  spiritual  interests  of  God's  heri 
tage,  and  not  guilty  !  Guilty  ?  Who  said  that  too  ?  Satlian, 
once  mure  I  tell  thee;  avauut !  Get  thee  behind  me,  foul,  med 
dling  fiend  ! 

"  Yea,  verily  T  am  doing  a  good  thing.  Thus  I  overcome  all 
Sathan-suggested  doubts  and  temptations.  So  that  is  all  set 
tled.  And  the  thing  itself  whereof  I  have  been  thus  foolishly 
doubting,  must  be  settled  by  this  time,  I  think.  Yet  it  is 
strange  they  don't  come, — not  all,  and  with  him,  but  one  first 
to  report  what  is  done ;  for  Dick  Swain  knows,  if  the  rest  don't, 
that  I  would  not  have  him  brought  here  to  confront  me,  but  be 
dispatched  on  the  way  by  gun-shot,  when  showing  signs  of  resis 
tance  as  it  were,  or  escaping.  But  I  hear  no  gun, — perchance, 
it  has  been  silent  knife-work, — or  perchance  they  have  delivered 
him  over  bound,  to  my  trusty  Wampanoog  to  be  taken  into 
the  forest  to  be  dealt  with.  They  will  doubtless  be  here  soon, 
now, — Hark!  Wasn't  there  sounds  of  footsteps?  Yea, — 
but  coming  in  the  wrong  direction, — What  does  that  mean  ? 
Who  can  it  be?  Can  that  be  Du turner,  I  begin  to  dis 
cern  loping  along  hitherward  in  the  dark?  Why,  I  thought 
T  had  put  him  on  a  mission  that  would  have  detained  him  all 
night, — 1  am  most  sorry  I  brought  him  along  with  me, — yet 
it  seemed  expedient  to  have  him  near,  so  that,  in  case  of 
any  stir  or  questioning,  his  presence  or  accompanying,  might 
be  made  to  throw  a  sort  of  sanction  over  the  affair  and  I 
think  I  can  manage  it,  yet,  to  gain  the  good  of  his  coming 
and  avoid  the  evil." 

And  the  desperate  hypocrite  at  once  checked  the  speed  of 
his  hurried  walk,  smoothed  his  rigid  brow,  gave  a  gentle  hum, 


DUMMER   ON   A   MISSION.  299 

by  way  of  reducing  his  harsh  tones  to  pious  mildness  of  voice, 
and,  as  the  Shadow  came  up,  cheerily  exclaimed, 

"Ah!  Dummer,  is  that  you?  Peace  be  with  thee,  my 
brother, — What  tidings  from  the  army  ?" 

"Nothing  adverse,  I  think,  revered  Deacon.  In  fact  I 
left  them  all,  both  officers  and  men,  in  just  that  condition  of 
feeling,  methought,  which  so  savors  of  godliness  and  saving 
faith  as  to  invite  down  the  needed  blessing,  and  make  them 
mighty  to  prevail  over  the  heathen  hosts  of  darkness  that  are 
so  threateningly  beleagureing  our  chosen  people." 

"  It  truly  rejoiceth  me  to  hear  your  words  of  faith  and  en 
couragement,  brother  Dummer.  I  doubt  me  not, — nor  did  I 
when  I  proposed  your  coming  here,  nor  when  I  especially 
urged  you  this  morning  to  repair  to  the  army, — I  doubt  me 
not,  I  say,  that  you  have  been  a  favored  instrument  in  greatly 
strengthening  this  temporal  arm  of  our  defence." 

(l  I  thank  you,  Deacon,  for  your  confidence  in  my  faith  and 
acceptableness  in  intercession.  And  I  trust  I  may  truly  say 
that  my  mission  has  not  been  a  vain  one." 

"  You  were  well  received  by  the  army,  then  ?" 

"Aye, — as  a  humble,  service-seeking  servant  and  representa 
tive  of  a  prayerful  church  should  be,  Deacon." 

"  And  you  attended  divine  service  before  the  troops,  and 
offered  up  for  their  success  some  of  those  able  outpourings  of 
prayer  which  are  making  you,  I  may  say  without  flattery, 
brother  Dummer,  a  burning  light  in  our  church  ?" 

"  I  did,  Deacon,  I  did,  I  may  say  safely,  I  did  feel,  on  the 
occasion,  an  uncommon  power  of  prayer  on  me, — yea,  I  wres 
tled  mightily  in  calling  down  the,  blessing,  and  truly  felt  that 
I  had  prevailed,  even  to  the  overcoming  of  the  untoward  at- 
fair  that  had  turned  up  at  the  outset  to  dampen  my  faith/' 

"  Untoward  affair  !  What  was  that,  my  prayerful  bro 
ther  ?" 

"  It  was  this,  and  I  don't  know  when  I  have  been  so  exer- 


300  THE   DOOMED    CHIEF. 

cised  to  keep  from  crying  aloud  in  holy  deprecation, — it  was 
this,  Deacon  Mudgridge  ;  soon  after  I  came  up  with  the  army, 
which  hud  halted  for  their  mid-day  meal,  and  by  kindly  per 
mission,  was  on  the  point  of  opening  the  services,  a  messen 
ger  came  post  haste  to  hurry  on  the  troops,  affirming  that  the 
heathen  host  had  already  assailed  the  threatened  village  of 
Dartmouth.  But  our  worthy  and  considerate  General  Cud- 
worth  wisely  decided  to  delay  for  the  proposed  religious  exer 
cises,  aptly  remarking  that  prayer  and  provender  hinder 
no  man.  And  all  the  troops  but  one  company  reverently 
tarried." 

"All  but  one  company  ?  Why  not  all?  What  company 
was  that,  who  could  be  so  perverse  and  irreverent  as  to  re 
fuse  to  tarry  to  become  partakers  in  such  a  precious  privi 
lege  r 

<l  It  was,  as  you  might  expect,  that  froward  Captain  Mosely, 
of  the  Massachusetts  volunteers,  the  same  that  bearded  the 
authorities  at  Plymouth  a  short  time  ago,  and  protected  that 
audacious  young  heretic,  called  Vane  Willis;  and  his  conduct 
now  was  equally  forward  and  offensive;  for  no  sooner  had  the 
general,  nathless  the  message  just  received,  made  known  his 
decision  not  to  move  till  after  service,  than  he  broke  out  into 
a  terrible  passion,  and  profanely  swore  he  would  not  tarry 
one  instant  for  prayer  or  anything  else;  when  loudly  calling 
on  his  company  to  follow,  they  all  rushed  disorderly  away 
from  the  spot,  with  the  beating  of  drums  and  the  noise  of 
shouting,  to  the  great  surprise  and  offense  of  every  godly- 
minded  man  in  the  army.  For  myself,  I  was  shocked  and 
scandalized,  and  still  cannot  but  feel  deep  concern,  Deacon 
Mudgridge,  lest  the  presence  and  connection  of  such  men  as 
the  two  1  have  just  named  with  our  army,  will  bring  down 
displeasure  upon  us,  and  lead  to  the  withholding  of  the  bless- 
iug." 

"  And  well  may  you  feel  concern   in   the  matter,  brother 


DEACON   AND    SHADOW.  801 

Dummer — I  have  agonized  and  agonized  over  our  remis=neps 
of  duty,  in  not  purging  the  lund  of  such  heaven-offending 
misdoers  as  you  have  named  But  they  are  not  the  wity  ones, 
wliuse  suffered  existence  is  keeping  back  the  blessings  we 
should  otherwise  receive.  There  is  one,  abroad  in  the  colony, 
lurking  in  disguise,  so  enormously  apostate,  heretic,  and  trai 
torous,  that  I  cannot  but  tremble  for  the  laud  that  is  tolerat 
ing  his  curse-invoking  presence." 

<k  You  startle  me,  Deacon,  and  the  more,  as  I  know  you 
are  never  prone  to  speak  without  good  warrant.  Who,  and 
•where  is  he  ?" 

"  As  a  keeper  of  state  secrets,  I  may  not  disclose  his  name, 
if,  indeed,  he  has  any  whereby  he  would  be  now  known  in 
the  colony;  but  we  may  well  call  him,  as  we  do,  the  Man  of 
Sin.  For  years,  he  has  been  lurking  in  obscure  and  remote 
haunts  among  the  red  heathen,  in  the  wilderness,  teaching 
them  his  abominations,  and  instigating  them  to  their  present 
warfare  against  the  chosen.  And  it  W7as  supposed  he  was  out 
of  the  reach  of  earthly  justice.  But  Providence  thereunto 
inciting,  doubtless,  to  the  end  of  punishment,  he  has  recently 
ventured  abroad,  been  detected,  and  traced  to  one  of  his  se 
cret  calling  places,  in  this  section,  by  a  shrewd  praying  In 
dian,  who  luckily  coming  along  after  you  left  us,  and  while  I 
was  about  to  proceed  toTaunton  to  strengthen  the  leaders  of 
the  church  there,  in  fulfilment  of  my  mission,  gave  us  the 
information.  Whereupon  ray  guards,  fired  wiih  holy  zeal, 
arid  taking  the  Indian  for  a  ,i>uide,  started  off  in  pursuit,  and 
I  am  now  every  minute  expecting  their  return." 

"  You  surprise  and  rejoice  me,  Deacon  Mudgridge.  How 
providential  that  the  news  came  while  you  were  here  I" 

"  I  could  not  but  think  so  myself,  nathless  certain  doubts, 
the  suggestions  of  the  Vile  Deceiver,  it  may  be,  crossed  my 
mind,  whether  it  was  strictly  my  province  to  act,  lest  it  be  said 
I  was  taking  justice  and  judgment  out  of  the  hands  of  the 


802  THE    DOOMED   CHIEF. 

proper  authorities  ;  still  I  could  not  but  deem  there  was  a 
duty  for  me  to  perform." 

"  Of  a  verity  there  was,  and  if  you  were  troubled  thus  with 
doubts,  they  must  have  been,  indeed,  the  promptings  of  Sa- 
thana,  ever  so  ready  to  turn  the  faithful  from  duty." 

"  Then  you  would  have  advised  and  sanctioned  the  action 
I  took  in  the  matter  ?" 

"  Yea,  surely.  I  would — nay,  I  would  have  esteemed  my 
self  favored  and  privileged  to  have  become  a  helper  in  the 
God-bidden  service." 

li  I  am  truly  glad  to  thus  receive  your  confirming  opinions. 
You  have  greatly  strengthened  me,  brother  Dummer,  and  I  MOW 
feel  I  was  but  doing  an  unavoidable  and  required  duty — I 
feel — stay — what  was  that?  Groans  arid  outcries,  with  the 
sounds  of  coming  feet!  It  must  be  them,  but  what  can  have 
happened  ?" 

The  hireling  gang  of  his  unscrupulous  tools  were  indeed 
approaching,  but  they  were  coming  to  report  far  different  re 
sults,  and  show  themselves  in  a  far  different  plight  from  what 
he  had  anticipated.  With  great  agitation  and  fierce,  inco 
herent  mumblings,  he  rushed  forward  a  few  rods,  hurriedly 
bidding  the  confounded  and  frightened  Dummer  to  remain 
where  he  was,  and  then  stopped  S'hort  and  began  to  listen. 
Presently  a  fresh  arid  nearer  outburst  of  groans,  mingled  with 
imprecations,  and  expressions  indicating  lively  fears  of  pur 
suit,  assailed  his  ears.  And  the  next  moment,  the  balked 
ami  crippled  band  came  hurriedly  limping  and  staggering 
along  in  wild  disorder  to  the  spot,  one  holding  a  bruised  and 
nearly  broken  arm,  one  dragging  a  disabled  leg,  and  another 
tightly  pressing  with  both  hands  a  gashed  and  bloody  head. 

"What  is  all  this?"  hastily  demanded  the  Deacon,  in  tones 
trembling  with  surpressed  agitation.  "  Where  is  he  ?  that  is, 
where  is  the  prisoner — \Vh;;t  have  yon  done  with  him  ?  Why, 
don't  ye  speak?  Dick  Swain?  Which  is  Dick  Swain? 


DICKS   ACCOUNT    OF    THE   FRAY.  303 

That !      Dick,    what   is    the   matter  ? — what   has   happened, 

Dick  r 

"  Enough  !"  fiercely  groaned  the  discomfited  and  smarting 
minion,  wiping  away  the  blood  trickling  from  his  smitten 
forhead — "in  the  name  of  all  the  furies  in  Tophet,  plenty 
enough  has  happened  !  Curse  on  the  hour  I  undertook  this 
blamed  business  !  I  have  got  my  death  wound  by  it.  Oh  I 
Oh!" 

"  That  is  no  answer,"  persisted  the  flurried  Deacon.  "  What 
has  befel?  Where  is  the  accursed  man  you  went  after?" 

"  Gone  back  to  his  place  or  sunk  into  the  earth,"  responded 
Dick  recovering  a  little  composure.  "  That  man  was  no  man, 
but  Sathan  himself,  or  one  in  league  with  him,  or  he  couldn't 
have  escaped  out  of  our  hands  in  that  strange  way." 

''Escaped  out  of  your  hands?"  fiercely  cried  the  former. 
tf  Did  you  get  him  into  your  hands,  and  then  let  him  escape 
without  shooting  him  down  ?" 

"  Yea,  but  could'nt  help  it,  Deacon,"  deprecatingly  replied 
Dick,  cowing  beneath  the  fierce  manner  of  the  other.  "  Old 
Miles  Standish  himself  had  been  at  fault  by  coping  with  such 
devilish  agencies,  and  when  you  have  heard  all,  you  will  say 
so  yourself,  Deacon  Mudgridge. 

He  then  proceeded  with  an  exaggerated  account  of  "  the 
attempted  seizure  of  the  mysterious  stranger,  at  the  Leonard 
Establishment,  and  the  galhmt  rescue  effected  by  the  dis 
guised  chief,  already  related  ;  described  the  Strange,  unearthly 
appearance  of  the  man,  when  pointed  out  as  the  one,  by  the 
Indian  guide,  and  seen  through  the  window  standing  near  the 
light,  talking  to  some  unseen  person  in  the  room — of  the 
stationing  of  the  men  behind  different  objects  round  the 
house,  and  of  himself,  with  cocked  musket,  in  the  road  beyond 
— of  the  sudden  and  unnatural  swiftness  with  which  the  fugi 
tive  burst  from  the  house,  passed  through  the  line  of  the  sur 
prised  liers  in  wait,  and  came  on  towards  him  in  the  road, 


804  THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

dodging  and  doubling  along  like  some  great  serpent  running 
erect  on  the  t;i!l,and  with  such  amazing  quickness  as  to  make 
it  impossible  to  get  any  aim,  and  finally,  of  the  unaccountable 
manner  by  which  he  himself  had  been  invisibly  approached 
and  .struck  senseless  to  the  earth.  And  one  of  the  men,  who 
seemed  equally  troubled  by  smarting  wounds  and  exercised  by 
superstitions  apprehensions  then  took  up  the*  narrative  and 
set  forth,  in  vivid  colors,  the  prompt  giving  chase,  and  the 
desperate  grappling  of  the  fugitive  requiring  all  their  united 
exertions  to  hold  him,  and  finally  the  sudden  apparition  of 
something  or  somebody  in  the  shape  of  a  big  sailor,  who  all  at 
once  stood  at  their  heels,  as  if  let  down  by  some  invisible 
winged  devil,  and  who  instantly  poured  upon  their  unguarded 
persons  such  a  shower  of  murderous  blows,  that  they  were 
compelled  to  relinquish  their  grasp  and  scatter  to  save  their 
lives,  as  they  all  did  while  having  the  mortification  of  seeing 
the  fugitive  and  his  questionable  rescuer  escape  to  the  woods. 

"  But  where  is  the  Indian  ?"  sharply  demanded  the  Deacon 
who  seemed  far  less  disturbed  at  either  the  singular  appre 
hensions  of  his  minions,  or  their  alleged  dangerous  wounds, 
than  at  the  strange  and  unexpected  failure  of  the  great  object 
in  view — "  Where  is  the  Indian  guide  that  he  don't  come 
with  the  rest  of  you  ?" 

"  Gone  back  and  still  hanging  round  there,  I  suppose,"  an- 
ev/ered  Dick  lugubriously.  "  After  assisting  the  feeblest  of 
us  wounded  ones  along  a  piece  of  the  way  here,  he,  though 
hurt  himself  in  the  affray,  went  back  to  see,  as  he  said,  if  he 
could  not  trail  the  unnatural  enemy,  or,  at  least  ascertain  the 
course  they  took." 

"  Ah,  who  knows  but  peradventure  the  thing  will  turn  out 
ri«ht  yet,"  eagerly  responded  the  Deacon,  still  desperately  in 
tent  on  accomplishing  his  dark  purpose.  "That  friendly 
Wampanoog  is  a  fellow  of  exceeding  craft  and  trust-worthi 
ness ;  and  I  can  scarce  doubt  me,  but  he  will  again  kennel 


INDICATIONS    OF   PERIL.  805 

the  game,  so  that  we  can  come  on  him  unawares  and  destroy 
him,  winch,  inasmuch  as  he  has  resisted,  and  attempted  to 
take  life,  will  be  in  the  eyes  of  all,  an  indubitably  lawful  act 
for  any  one  of  us  to  perform." 

"  Now  prithee,  Deacon  Mudgridge,"  rejoined  the  former  in 
a  tone  of  deprecation,  evidently  not  at  all  relishing  the  thought 
of  renewing  the  pursuit  as  hinted  by  the  other, — "  prithee, 
consider  our  disabled  and  suffering  condition,  and  the  mortal 
peril  we  have  just  escaped,  so  far  as  to  reach  this  place,  but 
which  I  greatly  fear  me  may  not  yet  be  over  for  us  even 
here/' 

"Peril  here?"  said  the  other  starting,  and  now,  for  the 
first  time,  exhibiting  signs  of  relaxing  from  his  blood-hound 
intent,  at  this  suggestion  of  a  personal  danger, — ''peril  here? 
What  peril  ?  What  can  you  mean,  Dick  ?  Who  is  to  come 
here  to  beset  us  ?  Our  brave  troops  have  just  scoured  the 
forests,  all  round  this  region,  and  driven  the  hostile  heathen 
to  a  distance  And  touching  the  matter  in  hand, — this  god 
less  son  of  Kelial  and  his  confederate,  why,  according  to  your 
own  story,  there  were  but  two  of  them/' 

"  True,  if  you  call  them  mere  men,"  responded  Dick,  in  a 
doubtful,  hesitating  tone;  "  but  such  men!  I  opine  they 
were  Legion,  though  assisting  for  the  most  part  invisibly. 
The»  they  may  have  carnal  outlying  confederates.  I  expec 
ted,  every  step  of  the  way,  in  our  painful  dragging  of  our 
selves  hither,  to  have  had  them  again  lijiht  down  on  us." 

"  So  did  I,"  said  another  of  the  obviously  fear-stricken  band. 
"The  solemn  truth  is,  the  whole  thing  is  too  uncommon  and 
de;iluh  appearing,  not  to  give  us  good  reason  to  have  a  tear 
ful  looking  for  something  out  bf  the  way  and  terrible,  if  we 
tarry  here  much  longer." 

Each  of  the  rest  of  the  band,  then,  in  turn,  added  confirm 
ing  opinions,  and  manifested  their  anxiety  to  get  away  from 
so  near  a  vicinity  to  the  scene  of  their  discumliture.  And 
20 


806  THE    DOOMED   CHIEF. 

last,  the  Shadow,  who  had  drawn  near  and  been  listening  to 
the  dialogue,  and  its  strange  development,  now  crowded  for 
ward  toward  the  silent  but  uneasy  Deacon,  and,  with  a  per 
ceptible  tremor  of  voice,  said, — 

"  I  am  not  wholly  without  misgivings  myself,  I  confess,  in 
the  matter  of  further  action,  nor  even  of  abiding  here  to 
night,  so  near  such  a  dubious  locality,  where  we  have  learned 
such  questionable  doings  and  appearances  have  been  permitted 
to  take  place.  There  is  such  a  thing  as  the  tempting  of  Provi 
dence,  Deacon  Mudgridge." 

The  Deacon  was  still  silent :  but  the  trepidation  of  his  man 
ner,  and  the  closeness  with  which  he  followed  up  the  rest  of 
the  company,  as  they  continued  to  edge  themselves  along  to 
the  house  till  they  reached  and  huddled  round  the  door, 
plainly  showed  that  either  conscience  or  cowardice  was  fast 
reducing  the  stock  of  firmness,  which  he  first  affected  to  dis 
play,  to  a  level  with  those  who  bad  more  openly  manifested 
their  apprehensions.  Nor  did  the  wild  start  he  the  next  mo 
ment  gave,  with  a  sudden  leap  towards  the  door,  as  the  sounds 
of  footsteps  reached  his  ear,  and  the  form  of  some  one  dimly 
seen  in  the  starlight  to  be  approaching,  caught  his  eye,  less 
plainly  betray  the  secret  apprehensions  that  were  beginning 
to  possess  him.  He  quickly  rallied,  however,  on  discovering 
that  the  new  comer  was  the  missing  Indian  guide,  and  sum 
moning  a  brave  manner,  exclaimed, — 

"  Ah  !  our  trust-worthy  guide  returned,  it  is,  I  perceive — 
I  am  glad  he  has  come  in  so  opportunely  to  dispel  the  doubt- 
ings,  I  trust,  which,  may  be,  we  were  over  much  prone  to  in 
dulge.  Let  us  hear  what  discoveries  he  has  made  touching  the 
matter.  Did  you  get  trace  of  them,  and  follow  them  up, 
my  red  friend  ?" 

"  Found  some  trail — found  where  they  go  into  the  woods/' 
was  the  demure  reply. 

"  Bufc  didn't  you  follow  them  up  then,  to  discover  their 


THE    INDIAN    CONFIRMS   IT.  307 

lurking  place  for  the  night,  which  must  be  near  ?"  persisted 
the  other. 

tl  No  go  in  the  woods  to-night — no  want  to — no  want  to  stay 
long  about  there,  so  come  here/'  answered  the  former,  in  a  sig 
nificant  tone. 

"  Why  ?"  asked  the  Deacon,  with  a  quick,  husky  voice. 
"  Why  ?  Did  you  discover  anything  dubious  ?" 

11  Don't  know  dubious"  gravely  answered  the  native;  "don't 
know  him  you  say  dubious.  But  think  Wampanoog  warriors 
there  in  the  woods — hear  Indian  voice,  sartain — then  Wam 
panoog  signal — know  him — think  they  want  scalps — be  out 
soon — may  be  come  here  fore  morning." 

The  announcement  of  the  Wampanoog  produced,  as  may 
well  be  supposed  under  the  circumstances,  no  little  commotion 
among  his  startled  listeners.  The  Indian  had,  indeed,  some 
reason  for  his  statement  While  stealthily  creeping  across 
the  field,  over  which  the  escaping  fugitives  had  passed  on  their 
way  to  the  forest,  his  ear  had  caught  the  sound  of  Metacom's 
voice,  and  in  it  detected  the  peculiar  intonations  of  the  vocal 
organs  of  his  race;  and  subsequently  heard  the  more  distinct 
signal  call  of  the  chief,  who,  for  some  reason,  had  varied  the 
place  of  meeting  agreed  on,  and  uttered  and  repeated  his 
call  to  apprise  his  white  friend  of  his  new  locality. 

On  this  foundation,  as  he  had  not  the  least  suspicion  of  the 
identity  of  the  great  chief  with  the  formidable  rescuer  of  the 
nearly  secured  object  of  the  movement,  he  had  not  very  un 
naturally  based  his  ominous  conjectures;  nor  was  it,  perhaps, 
any  more  unnatural  that  these  conjectures,  as  groundless  as 
they  were,  when  suddenly  disclosed  to  men  already  confused 
and  intimidated  at  what  had  befel,  should  have  struck  them 
with  all  the  force  of  an  alarming  truth,  and  instantly  con 
verted,  as  it  did,  their  previous  undefined  fears  into  ato  abso 
lute  panic. 

"  The  guns  !    the  guns !"  half  screamed   the  now  really 


THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

frightened  Deacon,  who,  in  the  strange  perturbation  that  had 
seized  him  on  the  arrival  of  his  discomfited  party,  had  not 
even  yet  noticed  that  they  were  without  arms;  while  the  lat 
ter  also,  in  their  strange  alarm  and  superstitious  looking  for 
intangible  enemies,  had  scarcely  thought  of  the  fact  them 
selves.  "  The  guns  !  the  guns  !  I  say.  Where  are  the 
guns  ?" 

11  Our  guns  !  There  now  !  0  Lord  !"  cried  Dick,  stam 
mering  and  twisting  about  in  his  terror  and  confusion. 
«  Why — wnVj  I  thought  we  had  told  you  how  we  lost  them 
all." 

"  Lost  them  ?"  fiercely  vociferated  the  other,  in  a  voice 
quivering  with  the  strangely  mingling  emotions  of  fear  and 
anger.  "  Lost  them,  stupid  coward  ?  How  lost  them  ?" 

'*  Well,  now,"  said  the  worse  and  worse  confounded  and 
trembling  minion,  "  I — I — don't — don't  know — know  I  had 
mine  safe  in  hand,  when  I  was  struck  down  and  lost  my 
senses  ;  but  it  was  gone  when  1  came  to — and  the  rest  were 
then  gone  too — spirited  away  some  how,  weren't  they,  men  ?" 
he  added,  appealing  to  his  associates. 

Several  mouths  were  at  the  same  instant  opened,  in  min 
gling  jargon  while  attempting  to  confirm  the  strange  assertions 
of  their  comrade;  but  their  words  were  the  next  moment 
drowned  in  the  loud,  excited  voice  of  the  Shadow  vehemently 
ejaculating  : — 

"  0  Lord,  hear  and  help  thy  servant  in  this  his  extremity. 
Lord,  the  chosen  leaders  of  thy  church  are  in  great  strait. 
The  heathen  enemy  are  encompassing  us  round  about,  and  we 
are  in  mortal  peril.  Help,  Lord,  help  !  Amen  !  And  now," 
he  added,  in  a  quaking  tone,  "  now  let  us  flee — flee — flee, 
Deacon  Mudjiriiloe — let  us  flee  .-traiohtway." 

But  neither  the  doughty  Deacon,  nor  any  of  the  supple, 
though  in  part,  blinded  instruments  of  his  dark  purposes, 
needed  any  urging  to  adopt  the  course  so  significantly  iudi- 


A   RETREAT.  309 

cated  by  the  terror-smitten  Shadow.  And  with  one  accord  they 
made  a  rush  fur  the  road  to  Plymouth,  and  went  hurrying 
and  hobbling  along  in  disorderly  array  on  their  homeward 
destination  ;  the  long,  lithe-limbed,  and  fear  impelled  Shadow, 
with  the  forward  lopes  of  a  giraffe,  leading  the  dimly  seen 
way,  and  the  obese,  duck-legged  Deacon,  puffing  and  wheez 
ing  like  a  stranded  porpoise,  in  his  desperate  efforts  to  keep 
up  with  the  rest,  bringing  up  the  rear. 

Amidst  his  tribulations,  however,  the  Deacon  was,  at  first, 
sustained  by  the  comforting  thought  that  he  should  soon  have 
as  much  of  an  advantage  over  the  rest  of  the  company,  in  lo 
comotion,  as  they  now  manifestly  had  over  him;  for,  being  a 
bad  walker,  he  had  come  into  the  vicinity  of  the  rendezvous, 
where  we  found  him,  on  horseback,  keeping  along  with  his 
party  in  that  manner,  till  within  a  mile  or  two  of  the  place, 
when  he  left  his  horse  in  the  barn  of  another  deserted  house 
on  the  road,  and  passed  on  with  the  rest,  on  foot,  to  their  desti 
nation.  And  now,  while  often  throwing  timid  glances  behind 
him,  and  struggling  hard  to  keep  from  falling  in  the  rear,  he 
inwardly  chuckled  at  the  thought  of  speedily  being  enabled 
to  turn  the  tables  on  those,  who  seemed  to  him,  in  his  fear 
and  vexation,  to  exult  in  taxing  his  powers  so  severely.  And 
thus  the  pitiable  wretch,  agitated  alike  by  his  keen  apprehen 
sions  of  pursuit,  and  his  hot  wrath  at  his  fellow  fugitives  for 
their  desertion,  having  forgotten  that  their  fears  were  as 
great  as  his  own,  and  that  fear,  of  all  human  emotions,  is  the 
least  capable  of  sympathy.  Thus  he  strove  desperately  on 
ward  after  the  rest,  till  his  longing  eyes  were  at  last  greeted 
by  the  dim  outlines  of  the  building  still  containing,  as  he  sup 
posed,  his  trusty  steed,  which  would  need  only  to  be  bitted 
to  be  ready  for  mounting.  He  now  began  to  slacken  his 
pace  and  breathe  easier,  throwing  contemptuous  glances  after 
his  receding  associates,  and  with  fiercely  muttered  anathemas, 
defiantly  bidding  them  push  along  now  as  fast  as  they  pleased. 


310  THE   D30MED    CHIEF. 

But  contrary  to  his  unheeded  words,  and  now  even  to  his  wishes, 
the  rushing  fugitives  in  front  began  to  slacken  their  pace 
also;  and  they  soon,  one  after  another,  halted  in  their  tracks, 
being  evidently  thus  brought  to  a  stand  by  the  sudden  pause 
and  retrogade  movement  of  their  file  leader,  Dummer,  who, 
the  next  moment,  was  seen  timidly  peering  along  back  to 
wards  the  Deacon,  as  the  latter  was  about  to  turn  into  the 
barn  in  quest  of  his  horse. 

"  Why  turn  back  your  footsteps,  all  at  once,  brother  Dum 
mer  ?"  at  length  asked  the  Deacon,  in  a  tone  of  ironical  bit 
terness,  which  he  took  little  pains  to  conceal,  as  he  perceived 
the  other  to  be  hesitating,  and  evidently  at  a  loss  how  to 
unburthen  himself  of  the  something  he  appeared  to  have  in 
mind — "  Why  not  keep  straightway  onward  as  best  beseemeth 
one  showing  himself  so  prone  to  lead  in  the  retreat,  and  to  be 
so  unmindful  of  those  who  by  reason  of  natural  disabilities 
are  compelled  to  struggle  in  the  rear?" 

"Oh,  ah,  yes,"  responded  the  abashed  Shadow,  now  obvi 
ously  getting  an  inkling  of  the  state  of  the  case,  and  feeling 
it  incumbent  on  him  to  say  something  in  excuse  for  his  in 
advertent  neglect.  "  Why,  I  knew  not  but  they  would  be 
lookinir  to  me  to  take  the  lead  to  clear  the  way,  as  it  were; 
and  then  touching  my  coming  back  hither  now,  I  did  not 
know,  as  I  bethought  me,  we  were  passing  the  place  where 
you  left  the  horse  — I  did  not  know  but  you  would  expect — 
that  is.  peradventiire,  you  will  not  take  it  amiss,  that  I  assist 
you  in  equipping  the  animal." 

"  Nay,  don't  trouble  yourself,"  coldly  responded  the  Dea 
con,  suspecting  the  other's  object  and  hurrying  on  to  the 
barn.  "  I  can  do  it  myself." 

"  Yea,  but  it  were  no  more  than  fitting,"  persisted  the  ?ha- 
dow.  eajrerly  following  after.  "  And  now  I  bethink  me,  I 
noted  that  this  horse  of  yours  is  one  of  exceeding  strength 
and  burden-bearing  capacity,  and  would  no  more  mind  taking 


FRESH  ALARM   OF   SHADOW.  811 

two  on  his  back  than  one,  and  if  a  somewhat  painfully  exer 
cised  brother  might  ask  for  a  favor — " 

Here  the  unheeded  speaker  was  cut  short  by  successive  ex 
clamations,  first,  in  the  tones  of  surprise,  then  soon  of  con 
sternation  and  despair  bursting  from  the  Deacon,  who  had 
found  the  stable  door  beaten  down,  and  anon  made  the 
astounding  disco\7ery  that  his  horse  was  missing,  leaving  evi 
dence  in  the  part  of  a  broken  halter  left  behind,  and  other 
appearances,  which,  coupled  with  the  known  home  propensi 
ties  of  the  animal,  at  once  convinced  the  amazed  and  troubled 
owner,  that  the  hungry  and  impatient  brute  had  snapped  the 
tether,  beat  down  the  rickety  door,  clearly  escaped,  and  was 
now  far  on  the  way  to  Plymouth  ! 

As  terrible  as  was  his  disappointment,  however,  he  man 
aged  to  suppress  any  further  outbreak  of  feeling,  and,  with 
holding,  fur  secret  reasons,  any  distinct  announcement  of  his 
laisfurtune,  mutely  hurried  from  the  stable,  and,  gliding 
Stealthily  forward  to  the  road  before  his  approach  was  hardly 
perceived,  fastened  with  desperate  clutch  on  the  coat  tail  of 
the  startled  Shadow,  who  stood  like  an  alarmed  goose,  on  the 
nightly  approach  of  a  fox,  apprehensively  poking  his  long  neck 
out  into  the  deeper  darkness  intervening  between  him  and  the 
shadowing  barn,  in  his  anxiety  to  comprehend  what  had  hap 
pened,  his  eager  and  repeated  inquiries  for  that  purpose  hav 
ing  met  with  no  response. 

"  What,  Deacon — what — oh  what,  dear  Deacon,  has  befel  ?" 
blustered  out  the  confused  and  freshly  alarmed  Shadow,  the 
first  to  speak. 

"  The  horse  is  gone — broke  out  and  cleared  for  home/' 
replied  the  other,  in  a  half  surly,  half  desperate  tone. 

"  The  horse  gone  ?"  exclaimed  the  other  wildly.  "  What 
shall  we  do  ?  Oh,  what  shall  we  do  ? — Lord  !  Lord  !  we  again 
beseech  thee — confound  the  counsels  of  the  pursuing  enemy 
— hold  back  the  pursuit  till  thy  servants  can  escape." 


312  THE   DOOMED   CHIEF, 

"Amen  to  that,"  huskily  responded  the  Deacon.  "But 
let  us  hence  quickly.  Thou  h;ist  marvelous  foot  speed,  bro 
ther  Dummer,  wherein  haply  we  may  find  the  account  that 
the  runaway  brute  be  not  greatly  missed  So.  hie  thee  for 
ward  quickly  to  the  front,  and  lead  the  way  as  before,  inas 
much  as  it  will  throw  the  men  as  a  guard,  as  it  were,  into  our 
rear." 

"  Then  prithee  loose  thy  hold  on  me,  Deacon,  that  I  may 
do  thy  bidding  more  effectively,"  nervously  expostulated  the 
Shadow,  vainly  attempting  to  free  himself. 

"  Nay,"  rejoined  the  pertinacious  Deacon,  now  the  bolder 
in  his  persistence  as  he  remembered  that  luckily  he  had  not 
betrayed  to  the  other  the  secret  determination  he  had  formed 
that  his  horse  should  be  encumbered  by  no  one  but  himself 
in  the  flight.  "  Nay,  I  will  not.  Thou  wast  about  to  claim 
a  seat  behind  me  on  my  horse  ;  and  now  thou  canst  not  refuse 
to  assist  my  more  imperfect  progress.  But  I  shall  not  im 
pede  thee  over  much.  Then  straightway,  forward,  brother 
Dummer,  nor  tarry  an  instant  longer  in  this  exposed  position, 
Jest,  while  thus  lingering  in  vain  disputations,  those  blood 
thirsty  sons  of  Belial,  now  perchance  close  on  our  trail,  sud 
denly  come  up  and  destroy  us." 

Stopping  to  listen  to  no  more  of  such  ominous  intimations, 
the  poor,  frightened  Shadow  began  a  series  of  desperate  lunges 
forward,  like  a  frantic  horse  jerking  at  a  dead  weight,  and 
after  a  while  succeeded  in  pulling  the  clumsy  and  shaking 
Deacon — still  desperately  grasping  the  now  horizontal  coat- 
tail-— into  a  sort  of  steady,  quickening,  elephantine  motion  ; 
which,  by  continued  exertions,  was  at  length  so  much  increased 
as  to  enable  this  oddly  coupled  brace  of  church-militant 
heroes  to  reach  the  coveted  position  in  front;  when,  with 
hurrying  step  and  renewed  effort,  the  straggling  column  again 
pressed  forward  in  their  continued  flight  from  the  ill-omened 
locality. 


PRISONERS    OF    WAR.  813 

But  instead  of  following  them  further,  at  this  time,  in  their 
harassing  panic  march  through  the  night,  we  will  anticipate 
their  arrival  at  their  first  halting  place  next  morning,  and,  hy 
change  of  scene,  and,  i\\  part,  of  actors,  endeavor  to  bring 
out  the  now  only  remaining  part  of  this  chapter  of  singular 
adventures. 

It  was  near  eight  o'clock  next  morning  when  Captain 
Willis,  with  his  company  of  victorious  rangers,  attended  by 
the  staunch  Captain  Mosely,  with  his  brave  volunteers,  were 
seen,  in  their  march  along  a  road  from  the  southeastern  part 
of  the  colony,  to  be  drawing  near  the  point  where  Hint  road 
intersected  the  great  thoroughfare  leading  from  Taunton  to 
Plymouth.  Before  them  were  marching,  but  without  any 
pretence  of  order,  a  body  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  unarmed 
Indians,  who,  though  prisoners,  yet  evinced  not  the  slightest 
disposition  to  escape,  but  seemed  as  unreluctant.ly  and  cheer 
fully  pursuing  their  unguarded  way  in  front  as  if  bound  on 
some  holiday  excursion.  They  were  the  trophies  of  the 
prompt  and  rapid  expedition  of  Captain  Willi* — to  which 
allusion  has  already  been  made — to  the  menaced  village  of 
Dartmouth,  where,  arriving  at  the  nick  of  time,  he  rescued 
the  half-burned  and  plundered  town,  and,  by  the  boldness  arid 
vigor  of  his  attack,  had  not  only  scattered  and  disheartened 
the  small,  and,  when  left  to  themselves,  not  badly  disposed 
tribe  of  Dartmouth  Indians,  but  so  hotly  pursued  the  little 
band  of  Wampanoogs  who,  under  the  lead  of  Arinawam, 
(King  Philip's  great  war  captain,)  came  there  to  instigate  the 
assault,  that  the  latter  were  glad  to  escape  to  their  own  fast 
nesses  in  a  distant  forest.  And  when  this  was  effected,  he  had 
soon  succeeded,  by  menacing  attitudes,  feints  of  surrounding 
thorn,  and  skillful  management  in  obtaining  and  conducting 
parleys  with  them,  in  inducing  the  warriors  of  the  Dartmouth 
Iribe  to  surrender  themselves  as  prisoners  of  war,  as  at  length 
they  very  cheerfully  did,  on  the  condition  and  sacred  promise 


314  THE    DOOMED    CHIEF. 

of  Captain  Willis  that  they  should  he  taken  only  to  Plymouth, 
and  there  he  fed,  well  treated,  and  set  free  at  the  close  of  the 
war,  and  as  much  sooner  as  might  be  deemed  compatible  with 
public  safety.  And  in  pursuance  of  these  terms,  he  had  started 
with  them  the  preceding  afternoon;  and  being  met  on  the 
way  by  Captain  Mosely  vigorously  pushing  forward  to  the 
rescue,  that  officer,  rejoicing  in  his  friend's  success,  at  once 
decided  to  wheel  about,  and  for  a  while,  at  least,  unite  himself 
with  the  escort. 

The  two  captains,  as  was  often  customary  with  this  grade 
of  officers  on  their  inarches,  had  mounted  some  of  the  horses 
generally  kept  in  attendance  for  that  and  other  purposes,  and 
were  now  riding  sociably  along  together  a  little  in  front  of  the 
foremost  of  their  respective  companies. 

"Where  do  you  think  General  Cudworth  and  his  command 
are  by  this  time,  Captain  Mosely?"  said  Willis,  at  the  point 
of  their  dialogue  which  we  have  occasion  for  noting. 

"  Hang  me  if  I  know,  or  much  care,"  replied  Mosely;  "but 
probably  halted  again  for  another  praying  performance.  I 
don't  think  much  of  this  idea  of  praying  those  red  skinned 
devils  into  submission,  unless  by  such  prayers  as  are  sent  along 
with  the  cold  lead  of  our  muskets." 

"  Not  that  you  would  object  to  prayers  on  proper  occasions, 
I  suppose,  Captain  Mosely  ?" 

u  Be  sure  not.  Why,  even  in  the  pressing  emergency  I 
told  you  about,  when  naming  how  I  broke  away  from  the  rest, 
as  we  were  ordered  to  stop  to  hear  divine  services,  as  they 
said,  from  a  godly  emissary  of  the  church;  even  then,  I  would 
say  to  my  soldiers,  Pray  boys — aye,  pray  boys,  as  much  as  you 
please,  but  pray  upon  the  run.  A  right  sensible  fellow  that 
St.  James,  who  said,  Faith  without  works  is  dead" 

11  Aye — that  is  it — that  is  it.  I  have  as  little  patience  as 
you,  Captain  Mosely,  with  those  do-nothing  men  of  faith, 
who  are  so  certain  to  be  always  lagging,  when  their  prompt 


WILLIS    SUSPECTS    THE    DEACON.  315 

notion  is  most  loudly  demanded.  You  and  I  will  have  to  do 
must  of  the  fighting  for  them,  I  fancy." 

"That,  for  my  part,  I  expect  to  do,  while  affairs  are  under 
present  guidance  and  command,  friend  Willis,  though  I  find 
it  rather  tough  work  to  keep  the  old  man  in  me  down  on 
witnessing  such  outrageous  shilly  shullying  as  I  saw  in  them 
at  the  army  yesterday,  when,  right  in  the  face  of  the  messen 
ger  just  come  to  urge  us  forward,  Granny  Cud  worth  gave 
order  to  prolong  our  already  too  long  halt,  to  listen  to  the 
prayers  and  preachments  of  that  long,  lean,  holy-faced  marplot 
from  Plymouth." 

"  From  Plymouth,  said  you,  Mosely  ?  Why  you  describe 
Dummer,  that  mouthing  zealot  they  call  the  Shadow — Deacon 
Mudgridge's  shadow — because  he  is  found  to  be  a  sort  of  echo 
to  that  power  grasping  personage.  But  the  shadow  is  always 
near  the  substance,"  added  the  speaker,  after  a  thoughtful 
pause — H  j\Iay  it  not  be,  that  the  Deacon  himself  is  mousing 
round  for  some  secret  purpose,  in  this  section  ?  I  have 
latterly  had,  Captain  Mosely,  some  strange  suspicions  about 
that  man,  wholly  aside  from  his  insufferable  bigotry  and  pub 
lic  officiousness." 

"  Well,  the  last  is  enough  for  me,"  rejoined  the  blunt 
veteran — "  quite  enough — nay  a  little  more  than  I  could  stand, 
as  you  saw,  in  that  miserable  attempt  of  his  to  get  you  arrested 
at  Plymouth.  I  gave  him  a  pretty  loud  piece  of  my  mind 
then  ;  and  if  I  should  catch  him  round  here  for  any  of  his 
mischief,  he  would  be  mighty  apt  to  get  a  louder  one.  But 
look  you  ahead  there  !  How  is  that,  Captain  Willis  ?"  sharply 
added  Mosely  pointing  forward  to  the  Indians,  the  rear  por 
tion  of  whom  were  leaving  the  road,  which  here  turned  to  the 
left,  and  were  now  seen  to  be  passing  directly  forward  into  the 
forest  on  the  right— "  Your  prisoners  arc  scattering  into  the 
woods  yonder.  They  are  not  trying  to  escape,  are  they  ?" 

"  No-/'  replied  the  other,  after  a   quick,  sharp  glance  for- 


316  THE    DOOMED    CHIEF. 

ward  at  the  objects  thus  indicated,  and  then  a  brief  pnuse- 
u  no — we  are  now  nearly  to  the  great  road,  and,  between  ?t 
and  us,  lies  a  narrow  point  of  woods,  formed  by  this  road 
passing  round  the  left  extremity  of  the  swell  here  in  front. 
And  some  of  these  hindmost  Indians,  doubtless  happening  to 
remember  the  locality,  are,  according  to  their  won't  in  such 
cases,  merely  cutting  across  to  save  distance.  All  right,  I 
think,  else  those  jogging  along  there  in  front  would  show  signs 
of  complicity." 

The  two  officers  then  rode  unsuspectingly  on  some  minutes 
in  silence;  when  just  as  they  came  in  sight  of  the  great  road, 
and  the  last  of  prisoners,  who  had  not  passed  into  the  woods, 
were  wheeling  into  it  arid  disappearing  in  the  required  direction, 
their  ears  were  suddenly  greeted  by  the  sounds  of  some  un 
usual  commotion,  accompanied  by  the  sharp,  quick  exclama 
tions  of  various  voices,  as  of  some  surprised  and  startled  com 
pany,  all  proceeding  from  some  point  down  the  great  r<>ad, 
evidently  near  where  the  divided  band  of  Indians  would  again 
become  united  on  their  march.  And  the  next  moment,  a  loud, 
wild  outbreak  of  terror  and  alarm,  in  which  the  mingling  cries 
of  Ili'lp  I  murder!  mercy,  and  the  tones  of  vehement  ejacula 
tion,  were  distinguishable,  rose  in  strange  chorus  from  the 
spot. 

"  What  in  the  name  of  Babel  and  Beelzebub  is  all  that 
about  ?"  exclaimed  the  astonished  Mostly. 

<l  Some  party  in  trouble, — whites  evidently,  and  closely  be 
set, — perhaps  by  our  prisoners.  It  must  be  seen  to  instantly," 
was  the  calm  but  rapid  reply  of  the  young  officer,  as  lashing 
his  horse  into  a  gallop,  and  beckoning  the  other  to  follow,  he 
dashed  furiously  round  the  intervening  point  of  the  woods, 
and,  with  his  friend  at  his  heels,  went  thundering  do'wn  the 
great  road  towards  the  scene  of  the  strange,  and  to  them  still 
incomprehensible  outbreak.  Although  nothing  was  at  first 
visible  to  explain  the  mystery,  yet,  after  speeding  their  course 


TERROR  OF  THE  DEACON *S  PARTY.         317 

a  few  hundred  yards  along  the  descending  and  wood-bordered 

Way,  and  reauhin"  the  level  below,  a  sudden    tur'n  of  the  road 

j ' 

soon  brought  them  to  a  small  opening;  when  a  scene,  less 
alarming  indeed,  but  more  singular  and  ludicrous  than  any 
thing  they  could  have  anticipated  or  imagined,  at  onre  burst 
upon  their  view.  On  a  grass-plat,  near  a  cuol  spring,  where 
they  had  halted,  stood,  closely  huddled  together,  the  fleeing 
party  of  Deacon  Mudgridge,  \vith  the  terror-smitten  appearance 
of  men  who  suppose  their  last  hour  has  come.  In  the  midst 
of  the  group,  was  seen  the  gaunt,  out-towering  form  of  the 
Shadow,  with  his  face  turned  heavenward,  his  bony  hands 
stretched  high  and  nervously  above  his  head,  and  his  whole 
body  convulsively  rising  and  falling  with  the  violence  of  his 
emotions,  as  he  poured  forth  to  the  resounding  woods  the  loud 
torrent  of  his  supplications  for  assistance  from  above.  The 
less  excitable  Deacon  was  making  little  outcry,  but  his 
shrinking  motions,  the  wild  glaring  of  his  pig  eyes,  and  the 
rapid  working  of  his  hard,  warty  visage,  showed  the  extre 
mity  of  his  tribulation.  And  the  rest  of  the  party,  in  their 
various  manifestations,  were  unmistakably  showing  themsehes 
to  be  equal  sharers  in  the  alarm  ;  while,  peering  from  the  sur 
rounding  bushes,  on  every  side,  was  seen  a  crowding  ring  of 
grinning  Indians, — some  in  mock  menace,  poking,  with  the  pre 
tense  of  taking  aim,  long  sticks  towards  the  affrighted  group, 
some  shaking  their  fists,  some  making  the  motions  of  scalping, 
and  all  appearing  to  be  vastly  amused  at  the  scene  before 
them. 

The  whole  of  this  unique  affair  now  stood  explained.  Af 
ter  fleeing  all  night  before  their  imaginary  foes,  the  redoubta 
ble  Deacon  and  his  precious  gang,  a  little  reassured  by  the 
appea  ranee  of  daylight,  and  thence  their  further  exemption  from 
molestation,  had  thrown  themselves  down  nearly  exhausted  at 
this  inviting  spot  for  rest  and  refreshment. 

But  they  had  scarcely  takeu  a  draught  from  the  spring  and 


318  THE    DOOMED    CHIEF. 

become  fairly  seated  on  the  grass,  before  their  still  often  re 
peated  wary  glances  around  them  fell  imperfectly  on  the  main 
body  of  the  Indian  prisoners  coming  down  the.  road,  v\hom 
their  excited  apprehensions  instantly  converted  into  a  for 
midable  array  of  their  dreaded  pursuers,  about  to  burst  upon 
them  with  tomahawk  and  scalping  knife.  And  starting  up 
in  wild  alarm,  they  began  to  flee  in  the  opposite  direction, 
but  were  the  next  moment  intercepted  by  the  other  division 
of  the  Indians  just  emerging;  from  the  woods  into  the  road 
below;  when  supposing  themselves  entirely  surrounded,  and 
giving  themselves  up  as  lost,  they  raised  the  outcry  we  have 
described  ;  while  the  Indians  themselves,  though  at  first  sur 
prised  and  doubtful,  yet,  with  characteristic  quickness  of  ap 
prehension,  soon  read  the  true  situation  of  affairs ;  and 
being,  like  all  other  Indians,  thorough  despisers  of  cowardice, 
they  had,  through  the  promptings  of  curiosity  and  contempt, 
gathered  up  on  all  sides;  when  some  of  them  could  not  resist 
the  waggish  desire  to  enhance  the  terrors  of  the  thus  oddly 
besieged  party  by  feigned  tokens  and  menaces  of  violence. 

A  glance  over  the  ludicrous  scene,  with  what  each  had 
known  or  suspected  respecting  the  prominent  personages  whom 
they  now  recognized  in  the  terrified  group  before  them,  was 
sufficient,  as  it  had  been  with  the  Indians,  to  apprise  the  two 
officers  of  the  immediate  cause,  at  least,  of  the  alarm  and  out 
cry.  And  Captain  Moscly,  after  one  or  two  vain  attempts  to 
speak  soberly,  burst  out  into  loud  and  prolonged  peals  of  ob 
streperous  laughter;  while  Captain  Willis,  whose  merriment 
was  somewhat  neutralized  by  the  suspicions  which  he  had  be 
fore  intimated,  and  which  now  burst  upon  him  afresh  on  see 
ing  the  Deacon  here,  made  little  or  no  comment,  but  spurring 
his  horse  forward,  cried  out  to  the  Indians,  who,  conscious  of 
their  foolish  position,  were  now  beginning  to  look  up  apolo 
getically  towards  their  captor, — 

"  What  is  all  this;  my.  red   friends?     Why  are   you  thus 


THE   SHADOW    EXULTS.  319 

hedging  in  these  unarmed  people  ?  What  were  you  thinking 
to  do  to  them  ?" 

"  0,  ah  !  notting,"  replied  one  of  the  leading  Indians,  who, 
being  the  best  master  of  English  among  them,  at  once  stepped 
out  and  assumed  the  office  of  spokesman.  "  Notting,  most 
at  all,  Capun,  only  see  uni  so  scare  at  Indian  with  no  gun,  no 
notting,  no  try; — no  want  hurt  um,  make  much  tickle.  So 
all  come  up  to  see — have  little  laugh — do  queer  little — have 
fun — that  all,  now,  sartain,  Misser  Capun." 

Another  explosion  of  laughter  burst  from  Mosely,  so  loud 
and  long  as  almost  to  make  the  forest  shake  with  the  reverbe 
rating  clamor  ;  when  as  the  cachinnation  at  last  subsided  to  a 

o  / 

sort  of  inward  rib-shaking  chuckle,  Captain  Willis  turned 
to  the  wondering,  but  now  evidently  much  relieved  objects  of 
the  roujih  captain's  irrepressible  merriment,  and  said  : — 

il  You  see  you  have  been  needlessly  alarmed  now,  don't  you? 
These  Indians  have  no  weapons,  and  not  the  least  disposition 
to  offer  any  serious  molestation  to  any  man.  They  are  pris 
oners  of  war  whom  I  took  yesterday  near  Dartmouth,  and  we 
are  now  on  our  way  with  them  to  Plymouth,  and  yonder,"  he 
added,  pointing  up  the  road  where  glimpses  could  be  had  of 
the  sight,  and  the  heavy  tread  heard  of  the  approaching  com 
panies  ;  "  and  yonder  are  coming  our  strong  escort." 

"  Now  the  good  Lord  be  praised  for  this,  our  timely  deliv 
erance  !"  exclaimed  the  exulting  Shadow,  the  first  man  of  the 
now  fully  reassured  and  overjoyed  party  to  give  utterance  to 
his  feelings. 

"  A  timely  happening,  verily,"  muttered  the  Deacon,  iu 
suppressed  tones.  "  We  shall  now  have  a  safe  escort  to  Ply 
mouth,  where  I  can  be  present  to  advise  in  these  new  mat 
ters." 

"  And  then  the  victory,"  exultingly  resumed  the  former. 
"Ah!  I  felt! — I  knew,  when  such  a  power  of  prayer  and 
faith  fell  on  me  yesterday  at  the  army,  I  knew  I  had 


320  THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

prevailed  even  unto  the  speedy  overthrowing  of  the  heathen 
enemy." 

"Now,  by  Jonah,  if  that  ain't  a  good  one!"  roughly  re 
sponded  Captain  Mosely,  aroused  by  tbe  Shadow's  sin^uiai 
assumption  of  an  important  agency  in  the  success  of  Captain 
Willis.  a  Look  here,  Mr.  Dutn  —  Dutu — well,  Duni  Shadow, 
then — what  time  was  it  in  the  day,  yesterday,  when  you  made 
that  wonder-working  prayer  ?" 

"  About  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  peradve'nture,"  re 
plied  the  Shadow  with  an  offended  air.  "  But  what  had  that 
to  do  with  the  matter  ?" 

"  About  as  much  as  your  prayer  had,  I  opine,"  bluntly  re 
joined  Mosely.  "  The  victory  was  obtfiined  in  the  morning, 
and  Captain  Willis  had  been  for  hours,  before  you  made  that 
prayer,  on  his  way  hither  with  the  prisoners,  that  is  all." 

"  Why  !  Ah  !  Well,  now,"  mumbled  the  Shadow,  taken 
somewhat  aback  by  the  captain's  unexpected  development;  but 
soon  recovering  himself  continued — "  But  the  carnal  minded 
cannot  understand  the  things  appertaining  to  prayer  and  sup 
plication.  It  is  the  faith,  not  the  utterance  of  mere  words, 
that  worketh  the  effect.  And  now,  I  bethink  nie,  I  had  the 
power  of  fiiih  on  me  early  that  monrng ." 

"  Ah  !"  said  Mosely,  with  a  droll,  humorous  twist  of  his 
rough  features.  "  Well,  that  is  one  way  to  figure  it  cut — one 
that  I  didn't  know  of — that's  a  fact.  But  I  can't  stop  to  argue 
that  point.  I  have  other  business  to  attend  to,  before  I  part 
•with  such  wise  company,  as  I  now  must,  on  my  return  to  the 
army.  And  my  business  is  with  this  Deacon  here." 

"  With  me  ?"  asked  the  latter,  with  a  surprised  and  uneasy 
look. 

"  Yes,  exactly  so,"  resumed  the  captain,  with  increasing 
sternness  of  look  and  tone.  "  Yes,  and  the  upshot  of  what  I 
have  to  say  to  your  Dea;-onship  is  just  this,  that  you  are  to 
understand  that,  firstly,  the  whole  credit  of  rescuing  Dart- 


THE  DEACON  AND  MOSELY.  321 

mouth  and  capturing  these  Indians  belongs  to  Captain  "Willis 
and  his  company  :  and,  secondly,  that  when  they  surrendered 
themselves,  they  did  so  on  the  condition,  and  his  sacred  pro 
mise  of  being  treated  and  kept  only  as  prisoners  of  war,  to  be 
eventually  set  free — that  I  have  endorsed  that  promise,  and 
mean  to  see  the  faith  of  the  colony  thus  pledged,  fully  carried 
out.  Now,  as  you  are  said  to  have  influence  at  court,  which 
I  am  sorry  to  believe,  and  as  1  have  rather  slim  confidence  in 
your  practices,  I  plainly  tell  you,  that  if  you  interfere  in  the 
matter  of  these  prisoners,  or  go  to  intriguing  to  give  them  any 
other  fate  or  destination  than  the  one  guaranteed  them,  then 
you  shall  be  made  to  sup  sorrow,  I  swear  to  you.  Do  you  hear 
that,  sir  r 

11  Go  to  now,"  exclaimed  the  Deacon,  with  the  confused 
and  spiteful  air  of  one  whose  incipient  scheming  has  been  un 
expectedly  detected — "  Go  to,  now,  thou  froward  and  irrever 
ent  man  !  Who  thought  anything  about  interfering  in  the 
matter  ?" 

"  No  one,"  retorted  the  other,  defiantly — "  no  one  but  you, 
I  presume  ;  but  of  you,  having  seen  a  small  touch  of  your 
manaiiings  on  a  former  occasion,  I  thought  such  things  not 
unlikely ;  hence  my  warning." 

"  It  were  an  offensive  impugning,"  responded  the  Deacon, 
lt  yea,  and  moreover,  a  needless  one.  The  court  of  Plymouth, 
I  wot,  will  not  require  to  be  instructed  in  their  duty  touch 
ing  these  heathen  prisoners  ;  albeit  they  may  not  be  over 
ready  to  be  driven,  without  proper  advisement,  into  the  ratify 
ing  of  terms  imposed  by  those  they  have  never  commissioned 
for  the  public  service." 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  that,  sir  ?"  sharply  demanded  Mosely, 
with  a  look  of  freshly  aroused  suspicion.  "  Nobody  cares  ibi 
your  fling  at  my  friend,  Captain  Willis,  here,  for  he  has  got 
far  above  your  reach  ;  but  the  rest  of  it! — why,  hell  and  fu 
ries  !  is  the  man  already  beginning  to  scheme  how  to  thwart 
21 


322  THE    DOOMED    CHIEF. 

us  ?  I  don't  know  about  such  symptoms  of  wiggling.  But 
I  can't  stop  to  dally.  Remember  my  warning,  and  see  that 
you  profit  by  it,  sir,"  he  added,  looking  hard  at  the  surly 
Deacon,  as  he  wheeled  his  horse  away  to  the  side  of  Captain 
Willis,  and  after  a  few  private  words  with  the  latter,  rode 
away  to  put  his  company  in  motion  on  the  countermarch,  for 
which  he  had  previously  ordered  them  to  be  in  readiness. 

On  the  departure  of  Captain  Mosely  and  his  company, 
Captain  Willis  lost  no  time  in  starting  his  own  oddly  diversi 
fied  retinue  forward  on  their  destination  in  the  opposite 
direction,  the  prisoners  being  allowed,  as  before,  to  lead 
the  way,  the  soldiers  of  his  company  marching  in  order 
next,  and  the  sullen  Deacon  and  his  party,  to  whom  but 
little  heed  was  now  taken  either  by  officers  or  men,  being  left 
to  follow  as  they  best  could  in  the  rear.  And  nothing  fur 
ther  occurring  on  the  way  to  delay  their  progress,  they  all, 
near  the  close  of  the  day,  arrived  safely  in  Plymouth;  when 
Captain  Willis,  without  heeding  the  commotion  and  rejoic 
ings,  which  his  arrival  with  such  unexpected  trophies,  on  all 
sides,  produced,  immediately,  with  his  lieutenant,  Noel,  for  a 
witness,  waited  on  the  governor,  announced  the  arrival  of  the 
Indians  he  had  captured  and  brought  hither  for  safe  keeping, 
and,  particularly  stating  the  terms  on  which  they  had  surren 
dered,  earnestly  urged  the  justice  and  policy  of  a  strict  ob 
servance  of  the  conditions  by  the  government.  He  then  for 
mally  delivered  over  the  prisoners  to  the  town  guards,  and, 
after  a  delay  of  an  hour  or  so;  to  allow  his  men  time  for  rest 
and  refreshment,  and  himself  opportunity  to  call  on  some 
with  whom  his  still  deferred  and  tantalizing  hopes  were  asso 
ciated,  he  again  put  his  company  on  their  march  out  of  town, 
and  on  their  way  back  to  the  seat  of  war;  scarcely  permitting 
himself  to  doubt,  notwithstanding  the  misgivings  of  his  friend 
Mosely,  that  the  fate  of  his  prisoners  could  possibly  be  other- 


SHIPPING   AND   SALE   OF   THE   PRISONERS.  823 

Wise  than  the  one  he  had  promised  them,  and  the  one  they 
BO  evidently,  and  with  such  good  reason,  expected. 

But  how  was  this  confidence  and  this  just  and  reasonable 
expectation  of  the  gallant  and  honorable  young  officer  des 
tined  to  be  met  and  requited  ?  Scarcely  had  the  inveterate 
Deacon  allowed  himself  time  to  recover  f'rtrn  the  fatigues  of 
his  fruitless  expedition,  before  he  was  found  besetting  the 
governor  with  his  misrepresentations  and  miserable  religious 
sophistries,  and  intriguing  with  the  magistrates,  with  the  ob 
ject  of  changing  the  destination  of  the  prisoners,  and  within 
one  short  week,  news  reached  the  astonished  and  deeply  ex 
asperated  Captains  Willis  and  Mosely,  that  the  whole  body 
of  the  Indian  captives  had  been  shipped,  and  were  then  far  on 
their  way  to  the  West  Indies  to  be  sold  as  slaves  ! 

Merciful  heaven  !  is  there  no  way  by  which  this  black  page 
of  our  early  New  England  history  can  be  veiled  from  the 
sight?  Must  the  damning  record  of  this,  and  the  scores  of 
other  transactions  of  turpitude  and  wrong,  that  have  charac 
terised  our  treatment  of  the  children  of  the  forest,  forever  be 
read  and  blushed  over  by  all  the  succeeding  generations  that 
are  destined  to  tread  the  soil  of  the  Pilgrims  ?  Sons  of 
New  England  !  did  it  ever  occur  to  you,  that  in  view  of 
these  things,  you,  too,  may  "  tremble  for  your  country  when 
you  reflect  that  God  is  just  ?" 

"  You  call  these  red-brow'd  brethren 

The  insects  of  an  hour, 
Crushed  like  the  noteless  worm  amid 

The  regions  of  your  power;  f 

Ye  drive  them  from  their  fathers'  lands, 

Ye  break  of  faith  the  seal, 
But  can  you  from  the  court  of  heaven 

Exclude  their  last  appeal  ?" 


324  THE   DOOMED   CIIIEP. 


CGAPTER    XVII. 

"Here,  old  men  say,  t'ue  Indian  magi  made 
Their  spells  by  moonlight,  or  beneath  the  shade 
That  shrouds  sequestered  rock,  or  darkening  glade, 

Or  tangled  dell; 

Here  Philip  came,  and  Minatonimo, 
And  ast<ed  about  their  fortunes,  long  ngo, 
As  Saul  to  Endor,  that  her  witch  might  show 

Old  Samuel." 

the  almost  sickening  task  of  depicting  the  frustrated 
wv-chinations  of  the  desperate  Deacon,  and  the  pitiable  exhi- 
bi'iotis  of  his  discomfited  adherents,  which  mainly  occupied 
tb"  preceding  chapter,  we  turn  to  the  more  agreeable  one  of 
following  the  hunted,  but  a  thousand  times  more  noble  men, 
^vho  had  so  adroitly  escaped  the  toils  that  had  been  thrown 
around  them. 

On  the  dispersion  and  headlong  flight  of  the  assailant  gang 
of  the  Deacon's  despicable  emissaries,  the  disguised  white 
stranger,  whose  capture  and  destruction  was  the  great  object 
of  their  secret  expedition,  at  once  rapidly  struck  out  wide 
from  the  road,  a  furlong  or  two,  into  an  adjoining  pasture,  mid 
threw  himself  down  in  the  covert  of  a  small  clump  of  bushes, 
to  listen  and  prepare  for  any  new  rallying  for  the  purposes  of 
pursuit  which  might  be  attempted  by  the  enemy.  But  his 
more  practised  rescuer  and  friend,  having  detected  the  pre 
sence  of  the  traitor  Wampanoog  among  the  gang,  and  deeming 
therefore  the  greater  caution  to  be  necessary,  followed  the 
retreating  party  some  distance  along  the  road  just,  keeping 
them  in  view,  and  carefully  noting  their  appearance,  until  he 


A  WAMPANOOG   TRAITOR.  825 

became  convinced  that  their  retreat  was  no  feint,  but  an 
earnest  and  final  one,  atjeast  on  the  part  of  all'the  white  men 
of  the  gang.  He  then  hurried  back  to  the  scene  of  the  affray, 
hastily  gathered  up  the  abandoned  muskets,  and,  throwing 
them  across  his  brawny  shoulders  with  as  much  ease  as  if 
they  had  been  a  light  parcel  of  sticks,  bent  his  steps  stealthily 
towards  a  thicket  in  the  woods  considerably  more  distant,  and 
in  a  more  opposite  direction  from  the  course  of  the  retreating 
party,  than  "the  one  which  had  previously  been  agreed  on  as 
the  place  of  meeting.  And  having  reached  the  thicket  in 
question,  and  concealed  the  g'ins,  he  next  commenced  the 
series  of  signal  cries  to  which  allusion  has  been  made,  rapidly 
changing  his  place,  and  varying  his  voice  so  that  it  might  be 
taken  for  that  of  different  persons,  and  at  the  same  time  cau 
tiously  drawing  near  the  appointed  rendezvous,-  till  he  had 
succeeded  in  attracting  the  notice  of  his  white  friend  and 
of  bringing  him  to  his  side. 

"  How  is  this,  Metacom  ?"  asked  the  white  man,  doubtfully 
approaching  the  expectant  chief,  who  had  taken  position  in 
an  open  place  in  the  woods,  that  he  might  be  the  more  readily 
recognized.  "  I  do  not  find  you  where  I  expected. " 

"  No,"  replied  the  other,  "  but  Metacom  thought  he  had 
found  reason  to  change  the  place  he  named." 

"  What  was  that?  What  new  discovery  did  you  make  to 
change  your  mind  ?" 

"  Why,  Metacom  discover,  as  they  jump  up  to  run  there,  a 
deserted  Warn  pan oog,  who  must  be  the  one  that  dogged 
Crocker  to  Leonard's  house.  The  curse  of  Manitou  light  on 
the  traitor  dog!  Metacom's  knife  was  in  his  hand  only  one 
little  minute  too  late  to  reach  the  heart  of  the  quick-fleeing 
rascal." 

"  Ah !  well,  that  would  explain  the  uncertain  glimpse 
which  I  caught  of  some  one  in  the  bushes  a  mile  or  two  back, 
on  my  way  to  the  house.  You  may  be  right;  but  if  so,  won't 


826  THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

the  skulking  knave  be  returning  to  dog  us  hero  into  the  forest 
also,  and  lead  on  the  rest  to  another  onset?" 

"No.  You  hear  JMetacom  just  now  make  Wampanoog 
different  noises,  like  scattered  warriors  in  the  woods.  He 
may  be  come  back  near  enough  to  hear  those,  but  quick  turn 
and  run  then.  Traitor  always  coward,  and  the  white  men  all 
too  hurt  and  frighten  to  come  back  ever.  No — all  safe  now, 
Crocker.  We  better  move  on." 

"  Where  ? — where  do  you  propose  to  have  me  go  ?" 

11  Metaoom  been  thinking  for  his  white  friend.  Crocker 
has  said  he  must  now  go  where  red  men  and  white  men  will 
not  come  together  in  war.  Metacow  has  thought  out  such 
place  for  him." 

"  Without  going  beyond  the  northern  colonies?  Where  is 
that  place,  .Metacom  ?" 

"  In  the  great  village  of  the  Narragansets,  who  are  not  ready 
to  join  us  on  the  war-path,  but  have  taken  our  women  and 
children,  and  will  make  safe  and  welcome  any  friend  Metacoin 
shall  send  there." 

"  But  will  not  the  colonists,  in  their  jealousy  and  suspicion, 
send  an  army  there  ali<o?" 

"No,  they  think  they  have  just  made  treaty  with  the  Nar 
ragansets.  They  have  been  there  with  commissioners,  and 
large  band  of  soldiers  to  force  such  treaty  as  they  wanted. 
But  the  chiefs  arid  warriors  all  keep  out  of  the  way,  so  the 
commissioners  not  find  any  with  power  to  make  treaty;  when, 
at  last,  they  catch  two  old  sachems,  too  lame  and  feeble  to  get 
away,  and  make  them  sign  what  they  write,  and  then  call  it 
good  treaty  with  the  whole  nation  !  So  they  not  go  there  on 
that  reason,  nor  on  the  better  reason  that  Metacom  will  give 
them  enough  to  do  in  other  places." 

"  It  may  be  so  this  fall ;  but  does  Metacoin,  who  knows 
something  how  those  now  in  rule  at  court  get  their  treaties 
with  tl.e  red  men, — does  Metacom  feel  sure,  that  so  long  as 


METACOM    AND    CROCKER.  327 

his  women  and  children  are  there,  the  white  troops  will  not? 
after  his  warriors  have  left  the  field  for  winter  quarters,  be 
sent  to  fall  on  the  unguarded  and  defenceless  villages  of  the 
Narragansets  ?" 

u  Our  brothers,  the  Narraganset  warriors,  understand  all 
this;  and  though  they  will  not  fight  till  they  are  attacked, 
they  will  not  long  remain  unguarded  and  denfeuceless.  They 
going  to  make  strong  home  for  winter,  on  good,  dry  island, 
in  the  big  swamp,  way  down  the  sunset  shore  of  the  bay,  ten 
miles  from  the  sea,  where  no  white  troops  ever  get  and  live. 
And  Metacom,  when  the  fall  fighting  all  over,  will  go  there 
with  his  men,  and  help  make  houses  and  strong  fortification 
about  the  island.  Let  Crocker  take  Metacom's  token,  go 
there  and  show  it  to  Nanuiitenoo,  the  brave  young  Sagamore, 
and  he  then  find  all  safe  and  welcome.  He  better  start 
when  the  next  sun  rise  to  light  him.  on  his  long  path  through 
the  woods." 

11  Thank  you,  Metacom,  I  think  your  advice  must  be  good, — 
I  will  start,  as  you  suggest,  to-morrow  morning.  But  where  did 
you  think  to  take  me  to-night?" 

"  Look  yonder !"  said  the  chief  in  a  pensive  tone,  as  he 
pointed  over  the  tree  tops  of  the  long  slope,  which,  beginning 
at  the  knoll  on  which  they  were  standing,  fell  off  so  rapidly 
as  to  leave  open  a  view  of  the  low  horizon  in  the  west,  where, 
in  the  clear,  blue  sky,  the  hazy  form  of  the  moon,  Just  begin 
ning  to  be  edged  with  her  slender  crescent  of  full  light,  was 
seen  sinking  behind  the  distant  mountain, — "  look  there  ! 
Do  you  see  that,  Crocker?" 

"  Ay,  the  setting  moon, — what  has  that  to  do  with  our 
lodging  for  the  night?"  said  the  other  wonderiugly. 

"  Metacom  will  soon  tell,"  resumed  the  chief.  "  That 
the  new  moon, — this  the  first  night  of  the  new  moon, — the 
time  when  our  people  believe  the  Groat  Spirit  is  ready  to  speak 
through  acceptable  powahs  about  the  affairs  of  his  red  chil- 


328  THE    DOOMED    CHIEF. 

dren.  And  Metacom  has  appointment  to-night  to  meet  the  old 
Sagamore  of  Penacook,  the  great  Powah  of  the  North,  who 
kindly  come  all  the  way  from  his  far  off  retreat  in  the  moun 
tains  of  Agmenticus,  where  he  go  to  die  in  peace,  that  he 
may  tell  Metacoin  what  fate  the  great  Manitou  has  marked 
out  for  him  in  the  war." 

"  But  where  is  the  place  you  have  appointed  for  this  meet- 

ing  r 

"  At  the  sacred  cave  near  "Winnecunnett  pond,  where  white 
man's  trail  has  never  yet  been  found,  to  prevent  the  coming 
of  the  red  man's  God." 

"  In  what  direction,  and  how  far  off,  is  this  pond  ?" 

"  Away  through  the  forest  here  at  the  north.  An  hour's 
fast  walk,  and  may  be  we  are  there.  Crocker  is  prudent  and 
wise,  and  he  will  not  talk  of  what  he  sees — Crocker  is  Meta- 
com's  friend,  and  he  shall  go  and  stay  there  all  ni^ht.  But 
Metacom  must  be  away  on  his  path  to  his  warriors  before 
morning." 

The  chief  said  no  more,  but,  after  making  a  few  short  turns, 
and  glancing  up  through  the  openings  in  the  trees  overhead, 
to  cntch  glimpses  of  the  prominent  northern  stars,  whose 
bearings  on  his  course  were  to  be  preserved  to  ensure  its  ac 
curacy,  now  boldly  struck  a  line  through  the  forest,  and  closely 
followed  by  his  white  friend,  glided  rapidly  forward  in  the 
direction  of  the  secluded  and  mysterious  locality,  for  which  he 
had  so  hesitatingly  announced  himself  destined.  And  thus, 
without  *(prd  or  pause  to  vary  the  monotonous  gloom  of  the 
way,  he  swiftly  threaded  the  silent  woods,  here  turning  aside 
to  avoid  a  rough  steep,  and  there  a  tangle  of  windfallen  trees, 
but  again,  wifli  wonderful  exactness,  ever  falling  into  the  true 
line  of  direction — thus  he  ceaselessly  strode  onwards,  for 
more  than  an  hour;  when  he  visibly  slackened  his  pace,  and 
at  length  came  to  a  stand  on  the  brow  of  a  small  rocky  bluff, 
from  which  the  beautiful  sylvan  lakelet  of  which  they  were 


INDIAN    SUPERSTITION.  329 

in  quest,  burst  dimly  on  the  view.  Mute.y  beckoning  the 
white  man  to  his  side,  the  chief  pointed  out  over  the  water, 
aud,  in  low,  reverential  accents,  said  to  him  :  — 


Now  listen  and  observe  !" 


They  both  did  so,  in  silence,  and  with  the  closest  attention. 
For  awhile,  no  sound  was  heard  save  the  low  susurration  of  the 
li«iht  ripples  of  the  water  that  were  gently  kissing  the  rocks 
aloriir  the  shores.  Presently,  however,  a  few  imperfect  notes 
of  the  «:reat  northern  diver,  sounding  as  if  broken  or  inter 
rupted  by  the  feathers  into  which  he  had  thrust  his  beak,  as 
he  floated  half  asleep  on  the  water,  came  trembling  over  the 
surface,  with  its  far  reaching  thrill,  from  a  distant  part  of  the 
pond. 

"  Ah,  that  jrood  —  good  omen  !"  hurriedly  murmured  the 
chief,  who  was  evidently  deeply  impressed  with  the  supposed 
sanctity  of  the  place  and  the  hour  u  That  the  bird  that  flies 
so  high*  and  sings  so  loud  and  solemn  on  the  wing,  to  make 
music  for  the  spirits.  It's  coming  to  rest  here  to-night  is  a 
good  omen  for  Metacom  and  his  cause.  Now,"  he  added, 
more  directly  addressing  the  other  —  "  Now  let  Crocker  look 
slow  and  careful  along  the  shores  for  sign  of  those  who  were 
to  come.  He  has  seen  nothing  yet,  but  Metacom  has." 

The  white  man,  while  the  chief  stood  curiously  watching 
his  motions,  then  slowly  ran  his  eye  round  the  dark  borders 
of  the  forest-girt  pond,  and  had  nearly  completed  the  circuit, 
when  a  feeble  glim'nering  of  light,  coming  through  the  dense 
foliage  of  a  dark  nook  on  the  opposite  shore,  shot  athwart  his 
yet  uncertain  vision,  causing  him,  however,  involuntarily  to 
raise  his  finger  in  the  direction,  aud  turn  enquiringly  to  the 
other. 

"  Yes,  Crocker  has  hit  it,"  replied  the  chief,  to  the  implied 
question.  "That  the  sign,  and  that  the  right  place.  We 
both  see  right;  but  we  will  both  now  listen  close  for  sounds 
there.  May  be  we  hear  something  that  tell  certain." 


830  THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

They  then  accordingly  both  bowed  their  heads  close  to  the 
ground,  and  fell  to  listening  intently.  And  in  a  short  time, 
a  low,  confused  murmur  of  mingling  human  tones,  rising 
somewhere  from  the  vicinity  of  the  spot  in  question,  came 
gently  wafting  to  their  ears. 

"They  are  there  !';  said  the  chief,  hastily  rising.  "  Me- 
tacom  no  doubt  now.  So  he  will  quick  prepare,  and  lead  his 
friend  round  to  the  place." 

With  this,  the  chief  at  once  proceeded — first  to  take  off  the 
light  pack  he  carried  on  his  back,  next,  completely  to  divest 
himself  of  every  article  of  his  nautical  habiliments,  next, 
carefully  to  wash  the  light  coloring  matter  from  his  face  and 
hands,  and,  finally,  to  draw  forth,  and  don  his  best  Indian 
dress  and  most  imposing  regalia. 

11  Now  follow  close — speak  no  word,  show  no  sign  of  fear, 
and  Metacom  take  care  of  the  rest/'  said  the  chief,  in  a  low, 
earnest,  cautionary  tone,  as  he  now  began  to  make  his  way 
through  the  dense  and  tangled  woods  along  the  shore,  inter 
vening  between  him  and  this  Indian  Delphos,  to  which, 
with  trembling  expectation,  he  was  now  so  nearly  approach 
ing. 

After  pursuing  their  difficult  course  round  the  borders  of 
the  pond,  nearly  half  its  circumference,  they  at  length  reached 
the  inmost  point  of  the  dark  cove,  over  which,  from  the 
d;irker  woods  beyond,  had  shot  the  feeble  pencil  of  light  be 
fore  mentioned,  when  the  chief  paused  for  further  reconnosi- 
sance.  But  before  he  had  made  any  new  discoveries,  or 
decided  what  part  of  the  seemingly  infpervious  thicket,  which 
here  everywhere  shot  down  to  the  water's  edge,  he  should 
attempt  to  penetrate,  to  reach  the  place  he  was  seeking,  a 
strangely  accoutred  Indian  stepped  noiselessly  out  from  a 
covert  near  at  hand,  and  having  identified  the  chief,  and 
silently  motioned  him  to  follow,  led  the  way,  with  many  a 
sharp  turn  and  intricate  winding,  into  the  dismal  labyrinthian 


A   FANCY   SCENE.  831 

maze  befor)  them.  The  direct  distance  to  be  traversed,  how 
ever,  was  comparatively  a  short  one ;  and  they  soon  and  sud 
denly  emerged  into  the  blinding  glare  of  two  small  but  freshly 
replenished  fires,  and  the  next  moment  found  themselves 
standing  on  the  border  of  a  small,  level,  well  smoothed  circu 
lar  area  of  ground,  of  about  a  dozen  yards  in  diameter,  beyond 
which,  the  sacred  cave  and  the  red  mystics  of  the  forests  now 
occupying  it,  stood  plainly  revealed  to  the  flight.  It  was  a 
singular  spectacle,  and  one  which  could  nowhere  be  witnessed 
except  in  an  American  forest,  and  among  its  native  inhabi 
tants — the  whole  of  it,  indeed,  in  view  of  the  solemn  hour  of 
the  night,  the  rusrged  wildness  of  the  spot,  closely  surrounded 
by  projecting  rocks,  shaggy  trees,  with  their  dense,  variform 
f'liage,  now  assuming  a  thousand  fantastic  shapes  in  the  out- 
shooting  gleam  of  the  fires,  and  the  strange  appearance  of 
the  living  figures  whom  the  occasion  had  brought  together, 
in  their  outre  dresses  and  wizard  equipments — the  whola 
presenting  a  scene,  of  which,  even  Fancy  herself  might  well 
find  herself  at  fault  in  the  portrayal. 

In  the  centre  of  the  entrance  of  the  cave,  whose  deep  re 
cesses  were  partially  disclosed  by  the  light  of  the  fires  blazing 
on  either  side  a  few  feet  in  front,  sat  the  chief  actor  of  the 
mystic  performances  about  to  transpire,  squat  on  a  large  bear 
skin,  in  a  bowed  and  stooping  attitude,  coupled  with  the 
other  usual  appearances  of  extreme  old  age.  His  body  was 
enveloped  in  a  sort  of  variegated  mantle,  composed  of  differ 
ently  colored  choice  peltries,  arid  so  ample  as  to  wrap  nearly 
twice  around  his  attenuated  frame,  and  reach  from  his  thin, 
tremulous  chin,  down  to  his  richly  beaded  moccasins.  His 
head-dress,  alike  simple,  and  significant  of  his  character  as 
king  and  conjuror,  was  coroniform,  consisting  of  a  band  of 
black  wampum,  closely  compressing  his  lank,  silvery  locks 
below,  and  rising  into  a  row  of  sharp  tooth-like  points  above. 
This  was  surmounted  by  the  stuffed  and  flattened  skin  of  the 


THE   DOOMED  CHIEF. 

Wakon  bird,  the  American  bird  of  paradise,  which,  being 
doomed  by  the  Indians,  ns  its  name  indicates,  peculiarly  the 
bird  of  the  Great  Spirit,  had  been  procured  for  him  from  the 
great  lakes  for  professional  purposes,  and  which  was  here 
made,  with  its  profuse,  long,  and  flowing  plumage  of  green 
and  gold,  to  over  arch  the  crown  of  his  head,  jutting  out  fan 
cifully  over  his  ears  on  each  side,  and  waving  pendently  over 
his  shoulders  behind.  A  single,  loosely  strung  necklace  of 
curious  bones,  teeth,  and  bird  claws,  hanging  low  over  hig 
enwrapped  bosom,  completed  all  that  was  peculiar  or  note 
worthy  in  his  outward  equipment.  On  each  side  of  this  old 
high  priest  of  the  ceremonies,  sat,  in  reverential  and  observ 
ant  attitudes,  first  several  of  his  pupilary  attendants,  who  had 
assisted  him  on  his  slow  and  tedious  journey  from  his  distant 
home  ;  and  then  a  select  few  of  the  distinguished  powahs,  or 
parii^ees,  as  they  were  sometimes  called,  of  the  more  imme 
diately  surrounding  tribes,  who  h;id  come  in  to  witness  the 
performance,  and  learn  of  one  with  whose  great  fame  they 
had  long  been  familiar.  These  were  all  no  less  singularly  and 
some  even  more  grotesquely  accoutred,  some  with  the  stuffed 
skins  of  rare  wild  quadrupeds  fitted  on  their  heads — some  with 
pairs  of  r.-ittlesnake  skins  tied  by  the  tail  behind,  and 
brought  round  the  neck,  again  knotted,  and  the  heads  left 
dangling  over  the  breast  in  front — some  wearing  feathered 
tunics  of  deeply  contrasted  colors — some  breastplates  or 
aprons,  covered  with  strange  figures,  inwrought  with  shells 
and  fish-bones,  and  all  holding  in  their  hands  flattened  clubs, 
magic  wands,  or  consecrated  drums  and  whistles,  each 
marked,  as  were  almost  every  article  of  their  dresses,  with  cu 
rious  mystic  devices. 

"  Son  of  Massasoit  !"  exclaimed  the  old  wizard  king,  at 
length  breaking,  with  his  shrill,  cracked  voice,  the  long,  dead 
silence  which  had  ensued  after  the  Wampanoog  chieftain  had 
arrived,  and  fittingly  presented  himself,  by  stepping  within  the 


DOINGS  OF  THE  WIZARD  KINO.          Odd 

mnrkcd  border  of  the  sacred  circle,  ar.d  then  standing  in  the 
attitude  of  deep  reverence,  "  ^on  of  Massaso'it,  thou  didst 
ask  a  hard  thing  of  thy  father's  ag<-d  friend,  when  thou  sent 
thy  runners  to  invite  him  here  to  consult  for  thee  the  will  of 
Manitou,  in  thy  troubles  with  the  p;de  faces.  But  Passaeon- 
aw;iy  much  considered — much  fasted  —much  dreamed;  when 
he  was  moved  to  try  making  Hie  lonjr  jouiney,  and  corning, 
like  a  little,  weak,  tottering  child,  walking  now  small  time — 
resting  now  much  time,  has  at  last,  after  many  days,  reached 
this  appointed  place,  where  he  has  again  fasted  —  again 
dreamed,  and  is  now  ready  to  begin  the  sacred  rite  ;  for  he 
feels  belief  that  Passaconaway,  who  now  stands  on  the  edge 
of  the  spirit  land,  and  can  look  hack  through  a  hundred  snows 
on  the  doings  of  men,  will  be  able  also  to  look  forward  into 
the  council  lodges  of  the  spirits,  and  learn  what  Manitou  de 
signs  for  Metajoin  and  his  people." 

He  ceased  ;  and  slowly  rising  to  his  feet,  began  to  take  off 
and  cast  aside,  one  by  one,  every  article  of  his  dress  and 
equipments  ;  while,  at  the  same  time,  his  attendants  took  up 
the  capacious  bear  skin,  on  which  he  had  been  sitting,  and, 
carrying  it  forward  from  the  cave,  carefully  spread  it  our  to 
its  fullest  ext.-nt  on  the  ground,  in  the  centre  of  the  circle  ; 
when  they  returned  to  the  old  Powah,  who  by  this  time  had 
denuded  himself  of  everything  but  the  scant  apron  like  ap 
pendage  hanging  from  the  girdle  round  his  waist. 

They  then,  after  joining  hands  and  forming  a  half  circle 
around  him,  assisted  him  down  the  rocky  otfset  fronting  the 
cave,  and,  with  measured  steps,  and  a  low,  inarticulate  chant, 
led  him  forward  between  the  two  fires  to  the  edge  of  the 
spread  bear  skin,  where  they  left  him  standing  alone,  and  then 
falling  back  a  few  steps,  awaited  the  event  in  demure  and  ex 
pectant  silence.  He  now  turned  slowly  from  one  to  the  other 
of  the  four  cardinal  points  of  the  compass,  pausing  and  gazing 
Steadfastly  a  moment  at  each,  when  he  laid  himself  down  at 


334 


THE   DOOMED    CHIEF. 


full  length  on  the  consecrated  skin,  closed  his  eyes,  and  lay  a 
few  minutes  as  motionless  as  the  dead.  Pie  soon,  however, 
began  to  exhibit  signs  of  life,  and  to  fumble  about  him  for 
the  borders  of  the  skin,  which  he  at  length  succeeded  in 
gathering  over  him  so  as  to  hide  his  whole  person  from  view. 
When  this  was  eifected,  his  attendants  stepped  forward,  and, 
after  adjusting  the  skin  so  as  to  leave  only  his  fac«  visible, 
and  rolling  him  up  as  closely  as  possible,  passed  under  and 
around  his  body  ami  legs  a  number  of  ropes,  or  withes  of 
twisted  grass,  the  ends  of  which  they  carefully  tied  together. 
They  then  hurried  into  the  cave,  brought  out  all  their  magic 
implements,  and  resumed  their  places  in  the  ring. 

Another  interval  of  silence  and  inaction  now  ensued,  during 
which  the  old  Powah'lay  as  before  without  the  least  sign  of 
life  or  motion.  At  length,  the  muscles  of  his  face  began  to 
twitch  nervously,  his  lips  to  move,  and  his  throat  to  give  out 
low,  gurgling  sounds,  which  very  soon  grew  into  loud  mutter- 
ings  of  some  unintelligible  Indian  jargon,  and  to  which  the 
attendant  panisees  now,  in  corresponding  keys,  commenced 
adding  the  accompaniment  of  their  drums  and  whistles.  And 
these  strange  mutterings,  now  partially  dying  away,  and  now 
bursting  forth  afresh,  and  growing  fiercer  and  louder  at  each 
renewal,  were  incessantly  kept  up,  till  they  rose  to  the  wildest 
screams  and  vociferations,  and,  mingling  with  the  increasing 
din  of  the  discordant  music,  made  the  startled  forest  around 
ring  with  the  infernal  uproar. 

The  old  Powah,  whose  contortions  of  face  and  limb  had,  in 
the  meanwhile,  kept  pace  with  this  clamor,  had  by  this  time, 
worked  himself  up  to  such  a  pitch  of  frenzy,  that  he  now 
frothed  at  the  mouth,  and  sprang  and  tumbled  about  with 
such  frantic  exertions  as,  at  last,  to  break  the  bands  of  his 
ursine  shroud,  and  cause  it  to  fall  from  his  limbs  ;  when  start 
ing  up  wildly,  and  glaring  about  a  moment,  he  sunk  down 


THE   PROPHET    SPEA.tS.  335 

Utterly  exhausted,  and    lay  stretched  like  a  dead   man    on  the 
ground. 

Feeling  now  assured  that  their  great  oracle  had  at  length 
attained  to  what  the  modern  professors  would  doubtless  con 
sider  a  perfect  state  of  clairvoyance,  the  attending  panisees 
at  once  proceeded  to  lift  him  from  the  earth,  carry  him  to  the 
cave,  and  place  him  on  his  bear  skin  recumbently  against  the 
offset  at  its  mouth,  with  his  face  confronting  the  royal  subject 
of  the  expected  vaticination.  They  then  seated  themselves 
on  his  right  hand  and  left,  and,  fixing  their  eyes  on  his  pale 
face,  patiently  waited  for  the  appearance  of  consciousness,  or 
the  waking  of  the  spirit,  which  was  to  prelude  the  last  act  of 
the  performance.  And  they  did  not  have  to  wait  any  unrea 
sonable  length  of  time.  In  less  than  a  quarter  of  an  hour, 
he  began  to  open  his  eyes,  so  far  as  to  render  the  still  fixed 
and  glassy  pupils  discernible — then  to  move  his  lips,  and,  in  a 
moment  more,  he  articulately  begun  : — 

"  Manitou  has  kindly  granted  the  vision,  and  the  vision 
is  for  Metacom.  The  son  of  Massasoit  has  many  enemies, — 
many  as  the  pale  faces  in  the  land.  They  lie  hid,  like  dan 
gerous  serpents,  along  all  his  paths,  watching  his  coming  that 
their  bullets  may  drink  his  blood,  and  his  head  be  hung  up  in 
the  places  where  they  pray  and  hold  council.  But  his  totem 
eagle  is  a  bold  and  cunning  bird;  and  the  white  man's  bullet 
is  never  to  kill  him.  They  are  mustering  thick  all  round  his 
swamp  retreat  near  the  homes  of  his  fathers,  but  they  come 
near  him  there  only  to  leave  their  scalps  for  his  keen-eyed 
warriors.  They  think  they  have  shut  him  up,  like  a  flock  of 
helpless  deer  in  a  snow  yard,  easy  to  be  taken,  but  he  is  now, 
when  they  think  not,  seen  moving  over  the  country  for  the  great 
forests  towards  the  setting  sun,  where  the}"  fear  to  follow  him, 
leaving  the  hundred  trails  of  his  scattering  warriors  red  with' 
the  blood  of  their  enemies.  Here  all  the  great  chiefs  of  the 
east,  of  the  north,  and  of  the  west,  are  seen  coming  to  shake 


THE   DOOMED    CHIEF. 

hands  with  him,  and  offer  him  their  warriors.  It  has  now 
come  the  season  of  the  corn  harvest  and  the  yellow  leaf;  and 
his  enemies  are  gathering  strong  in  the  west.  But  he  soon 
comes  down  upon  them,  with  the  long,  still  leaps  of  the  pan 
ther,  and  the  bands  of  his  divided  braves  quickly  fill  the 
whole  vaUev  of  the  Long  river  with  the  war  whoop  and  the 
shv>ut  of  victory,  rising  over  the  groans  and  death  cries  of  the 
beaten  and  scattered  pale  faces.  It  has  now  come  the  season 
of  winter,  and  Metacom'a  warriors  are  wandering  cold  and 
hungry  among  the  forest  hills  of  the  east,  where  the  white 
men  think  them  too  feeble  and  few  to  make  them  more  trou 
ble,  but  soon  find  them  warming  themselves  at  the  fires  of  the 
burtiing  villages,  and  eating  the  corn  and  cattle  they  take 
there.  And  it  has  now  come  the  season  of  the  melting  snows, 
the  starting  bud,  and  the  opening  flower.  And  the  forests 
are  swarming  with  the  mustering  tribes  of  red  warriors,  now 
all  united,  like  brothers,  in  the  wampum  league,  with  the 
brave  son  of  Massasoit  for  their  grand  Sagamore  and  war  chief. 
Their  powder-horns  and  bullet-bags  are  well  filled, — their 
knives  and  tomahawks  are  all  bright  and  well  sharpened. 
The  frightened  pale  faces  are  every  where  sending  out  their 
fighting  men,  but  only  to  be  every  where  scattered  and  h-ave 
half  their  numbers  dead  on  the  field  of  battle  They  see  the 
long  lines  of  the  avenging  red  men  rushing  forward,  with 
shout  and  war-whoop,  towards  their  great  towns  and  cities  for 
the  final  blow;  and  they  prepare  their  ships  to  leave  the  land 
they  have  stolen  to  be  again  possessed  by  its  cheated  owners. 
What  shall  save  them  now?  See!  see,  Manitou  has  at,  last 
placed  all  but  within  the  very  grasp  of  the  wronged  red  men, 
the  birth-right  of  their  fathers!  But,  ha!"  exclaimed  the 
old  seer  of  the  woods,  whose  warning  tones  had  now  risen 
almost  into  screams  of  triumph,  but  who  here  suddenly  paused 
with  an  expression  of  surprise  and  painful  disappointment. — 
*'  Ha  !  What  is  that?  What  means  it,  great  Mauitou  ?  where 


CONTINUATION    OF   THE    VISION.  337 

are  they  now  ?  Where  the  thick  array  of  victorious  warriors  a 
moment  ago  making  their  last  rush  for  the  prey-and  the  prize? 
Where, — 0  where?  But  it  is  so.  A  dark  cloud  has  settled 
over  them.  They  are  nowhere  to  be  seen  !  And  the  vision 
for  Al  eta  com  and  the  red  men  is  shut  up  for  ever  !" 

He  ceased,  auJ  with  all  the  rest,  sat  some  minutes  musing 
in  gloomy  silence  j  when  his  eyes  again  assumed  their  f. inner 
dreamy,  fixed  stare,  as  if  gazing  on  some  thing  beyond  'the 
material  objects  around  him  ;  and  shortly,  in  subdued  and 
melancholy  accents,  he  resumed — 

"  Passaconaway  can  now  see  away  beyond  the  cloud.  He 
has  more  vision  ;  but  the  vision,  this  time,  is  for  the  pale 
faces.  From  the  little  narrow  past,  he  sees  them  spreading 
out,  for  three  thousand  moons,  into  the  great  \\ide  future.  lie 
sees  them,  in  long  thickening  lines,  reaching  from  the  north 
to  the  south,  fast  crowding  on  towards  the  west,  sweeping 
away  the  forests  of  the  land  they  have  seized  by  the  right  of 
the  strongest,  arid  plowing  over  the  bones  of  the  owners,  who 
have  been  made  to  know  the  fkte  of  the  weakest.  They  still 
move  on,  everywhere  leveling  the  forests — everywhere  build 
ing  houses  higher  and  higher,  planting  cities  and  villages 
thicker  and  thicker,  and  everywhere  wearing  garments  richer 
and  richer.  But  ^1  e"^  is  a  dark  and  guilty  spot  on  all  their 
garments,  which  will  not  he  washed  out.  It  is  the  mark  of 
the  blood  of  the  red  men  they  have  robbed  and  destroyed. 
And  a  voice,  long  delayed,  now  goes  up  from  the  graves  of  the 
wronged  race  to  the  Great  Spirit,  asking  how  long?  Ma  niton 
answers,  Not  yet.  The  measure  of  the  great  crime  is  not  full. 
Two  thousand  moons  have  now  rolled  away.  The  thickening 
hosts  of  the  pale  faces,  now  become  a  great  nation,  have 
reached  the  furtherest  shores  of  the  great  lakes,  and  the  banks 
of  the  great  father  of  rivers  in  the  west.  But  still  they  crowd 
for  a  thousand  moons  more — crowd  on  further  into  the  hist 
forests,  refuges  jf  the  dwindling  tribes  of  the  red  men,  who 
22 


338  THE    DOOMED    CHIEF. 

flee  only  to  be  again  routed,  or  remain  only  to  die  by  the 
bullet  or  fire  water — on — on  they  still  crowd,  till  they  nt  length 
see  the  last  feeble  bands  of  the  hunted  victims  disappearing 
over  the  last  mountains  of  the  setting  sun,  soon  to  perish  on 
the  shores  of  the  great  sea  waters  beyond.  The  pale  faces 
have  now  become  a  mighty  people.  They  laugh  at  the  memory 
of  the  red  man,  and  scornfully  trample  his  ashes  under  their 
feet.  They  carry  their  heads  high  •  they  boast  loud  of  their 
strength  and  greatness,  and  kick  at  the  whole  world.  They 
have  become  rich;  they  live  in  great  palaces,  and  now  wear 
garments  of  gold.  But  the  guilty  spot  is  still  on  them  all, 
grown  darker  and  deeper  than  before.  And  again  the  voice 
goes  up  to  the  Great  Spirit,  asking,  How  long  now?  This 
time  Manitou  returns  no  answer  in  word.  But  presently  the 
great  nation  of  the  pale  faces  begins  every  where  to  shake  and 
break  to  pieces  ;  and  the  fifty  little  nations  now  going  to  make 
it  up,  are  soon  seen  every  where  marching  to  make  bloody 
war  on  each  other.  The  last  thousand  moons  have  run  their 
courses.  The  cup  is  full.  But  Passaconaway  can  see  no 
more.  A  dark  cloud — darker  and  more  terrible  than  fell  on 
the  leagued  tribes  of  the  red  men,  has  at  last  fallen  on  them 
also,  and  hid  them  from  his  sight.  Son  of  Massasoit !"  now 
added  the  speaker,  rousing  himself  from  his  strange  revery, 
if  revery  it  could  be  called,  and  turning  to  Metacom,  "  the 
visions  of  Passaconaway  are  all  ended.  He  has  no  more  to 
say." 

"  It  Is  well,"  responded  the  Wampanoog  chieftain,  as  a 
slight  shade  of  pain  and  disappointment  passed  over  his  stern, 
gloomy  countenance.  "  Metacom  likes  it  well.  He  is  not  to 
die  by  the  hand  of  the  white  man,  nor  till  he  has  terribly 
avenged  the  wrongs  of  himself  and  his  people.  Manitou,  in 
his  own  time,  does  the  rest.  He  is  content;  and  his  arm  is 
now  made  strong  for  the  red  work  he  sees  set  before  him." 

To  describe  the  remainder  of  this  strange  scene  of  aboriginal 


PASSACONAWAT.  339 

mysteries,  but  few  more  words  are  wanting.  With  one  accord 
the  company  now  broke  from  the  forms  and  order  hitherto  pre 
served,  and  busily  set  about  cooking  the  bounteous  supply 
of  fresh  fish  and  venison  that  had  already  been  provided  for 
the  occasion.  Next  came  the  feast;  when  the  short  but  sig 
nificant  powah  dance  was  made  to  conclude  the  wild  ceremonies 
of  the  night.  After  this,  Metacom  bestowed  rich  presents  on 
the  venerated  old  seer  of  the  forest,  and  lesser  ones  on  each 
of  all  the  other  powahs  present.  Pie  then  bespoke  kind  offices 
for  his  white  friend,  hung  about  his  neck  the  promised  pro 
tecting  tokens,  and  departed  on  his  way  to  the  distant  camp 
of  his  warriors,  leaving  the  rest  of  the  company  to  retire 
within  the  cave  to  finish  the  night  in  slumber  and  repose. 

By  way  of  showing  the  probabilities  which  we  would  have 
attached  to  the  singular  scene  which  is  made  to  compose  the 
principal  part  of  the  foregoing  chapter,  it  were  well,  perhaps, 
before  proceeding  with  our  eventful  story,  to  refer  briefly  to 
the  records  and  legends  of  the  times,  in  which  that  scene  is 
represented  to  have  occurred. 

It  seems  to  have  been  well  ascertained,  that  King  Philip, 
about  the  commencement  of  that  terrible  war,  which  came  so 
near  proving  the  destruction  of  the  Northern  Colonies,  form 
ally  consulted  some  Indian  Seer,  respecting  the  fortunes  and 
result  of  the  dubious  contest;  and,  with  his  out  towering  posi 
tion  among  the  red  men  of  the  North,  it  is  not  to  be  sup 
posed  that  he  would  content  himself  with  having  recourse  to 
any  but  the  most  eminent  in  the  land.  That  Passaconaway, 
the  aged  Sagamore  of  Per.acook,  New  Concord,  N.  H.,  was  es 
teemed  such,  both  by  the  Indians  and  wh.te  men,  scarce  a 
doubt  need  bo,  entertained.  He  had  been  perhaps  a  noted 
powah  or  conjurer  up,  perhaps,  to  about  the  middle  nue ; 
when  succeeding  to  the  Sachemdom  of  the  Merimac  Indians, 
he  became  an  equally  noted  hunter  and  war-chief.  But  being 
like  King  Philip,  with  whom  of  course  he  deeply  sympathized, 


340  THE   DOOMED    CHIEF. 

although  disarmed,  and  placed  under  a  degrading  surveillance 
by  the  colony  of  Massachusetts,  he  soon  relinquished  his  gov 
ernment  to  his  son,  Wotiolanset,  and  retired  to  the  mountains 
of  Agamenticus,  in  the  then  wilderness  borders  of  Maine, 
where  he  died  about  the  close  of  King  Philip's  war,  nearly 
one  hundred  years  old.  And  it  was  here,  in  his  mountain 
seclusion,  where  he  appeared  to  have  resumed  his  old  vocation 
with  a  success  that  threw  all  his  former  endeavors  into  the 
shade,  that  he  performed  those  extraordinary  feats  of  sorcery 
and  vaticination,  which,  next  to  white  witchcraft,  made  up  the 
greatest  marvels  of  those,  and  the  more  immediately  succeed 
ing  times,  and  which  formed  the  foundation  of  more  of  the 
wild  legends  of  Indian  necromancy  than  were  ever  before  or 
since,  perhaps,  connected  with  the  name  of  any  other  individual 
of  that  remarkable  race.  There  is  one  of  these  legends  still  in 
preservation,  in  verse,  which  embodies  some  specimens  of  the 
popular  traditions  and  opinions  of  the  general  character  and 
supernatural  powers  of  the  old  chief,  and  which  we  will  here 
append  as  a  fitting  close  of  our  description. 

That  Sachem  once  to  Dover  came, 

From  Penacook,  when  eve  was  setting  in, 

With  plumes  his  locks  were  dressed,  his  eyes  shot  flame  ! 

He  struc  <  his  massy  club  with  dreadful  din, 

That  oft  had  tmide  the  ranks  of  battle  thin. 

Around  his  copper  neck  terrific  hung 

A  tied  together  bear  and  catamount  skin, 

The  curious  fish-bones  o'er  his  boroni  swung, 
And  thrice  the  Sachem  danced,  and  thrice  the  Sachem  sung. 

Strange  man  was  he  !  'Twas  said  he  oft  pursued 

The  sable  bear,  and  slew  him  in  his  den  ; 

That  oft  he  howled  through  many  a  pathless  wood, 

And  many  a  tangled  wild  and  poisonous  fen, 

That  ne'er  was  trod  by  other  mortal  man. 

The  craggy  ledge  for  rattlesnakes  he  sought, 

And  choked  them  one  by  one,  and  then 

O'ertook  the  tall  gray  moose,  as  quick  as  thought, 
And  then  the  mouutiun  cat  he  chased,  and  chasing  caught. 


THE   KING   OF   PENACOOK,  841 

A  wondrous  wight,  for  o'er  Piogee's  ice, 
With  brindle  wolves  all  harnessod  three  and  thre.e 
High  seated  on  a  sledge,  made  in  a  trice, 
On -Mount  Agiocachook  *  of  hickory, 
He  lashed  and  reeled,  and  sung  right  jollilyj 
And  once  upon  a  car  of  flaming  fire, 
The  dreadful  Indian  shook  with  fear  to  see 
The  King  of  Penacook,  his  chief  and  sire, 
Ride  flauiiug  up  towards  heaven,  than  any  mountain  higher." 
*  Tne  old  Indian  name  of  Mount  Washington. 


342  THE    DOOMED    CHIEF. 


CHAPTER   XVIII. 

"They  woke  to  die  'midst  flame  and  smote, 
And  shout,  and  groan,  and  sabre  stroke, 
And  death-shots  falling  thick  and  fast 
As  lightnings  from  the  mountain  cloud." 

As  has  already  been  foreshadowed  in  the  vision  of  the  old 
Indian  seer  described  in  the  preceding  chapter,  King  Philip, 
in  despite  of  the  impotent  attempts  which  General  Cudworth, 
at  the  expense  of  the  lives  of  many  of  his  troops,  had  made 
to  drive  him  from  his  swamp  fastnesses  on  the  eastern  shore 
of  the  lower  Taunton ;  and  despite,  also,  of  the  still  more 
futile  attempt  which  the  same  sage  commander  next  made  to 
surround  and  starve  him  into  submission — in  despite  of  all 
these,  King  Philip  and  his  warriors,  laughing  to  scorn  these 
contrivances  to  entrap  them,  remained  their  own  appointed 
time,  and  then  silently  and  safely  transported  themselves,  one 
dark  night,  on  the  flotilla  of  canoes  and  rafts  they  had  pre 
pared  for  the  emergency,  to  the  west  side  of  the  river,  and, 
before  morning,  had  accomplished  nearly  half  their  r.-ipid  and 
triumphant  exodus  from  their  old  homes  to  the  wilderness 
hills  of  Central  Massachusetts.  Remaining  here,  however,  no 
longer  than  to  afford  him  sufficient  time  to  perfect  his  alliances 
with  the  Connecticut  tribes,  and  with  them  arrange  the  plans 
of  his  contemplated  fall  campaign — allowing,  in  the  meantime, 
his  restless  warriors  the  pastime  of  destroying  the  frontier 
village  of  Brookfield,  and  of  driving  back,  with  the  loss  of 
nearly  half  their  numbers,  the  Massachusetts  Commissioners, 
who,  with  a  strong,  armed  escort,  were  approaching  to  attempt 


THE    MOHEGANS.  343 

tc  detach  the  Nipraucks — the  bold  and  energetic  chieftain 
suddenly  burst  down  from  the  mountains,  like  a  storm-cloud, 
into  the  valley  of  the  Connecticut;  and  the  surprised  and 
comparatively  unguarded  towns  of  Northfield,  Greenfield, 
Deerfield,  Hatley,  Hadley,  and  Springfield,  were  soon,  and  in 
rapid  succession,  made  to  feel  the  terrible  weight  of  his  ven 
geance,  lie  had  now  been  joined  by  every  considerable  tribe 
of  the  Indians,  from  the  shores  of  the  Atlantic  to  the  distant 
banks  of  the  Hudson,  with  the  single  exception  of  the  trai 
torous  Mohegans.*  And  by  the  wonderful  celerity  of  his 
movements,  his  unvarying  sagacity  in  planning  his  attacks, 
and  the  consummate  skill  of  all  his  military  combinations — 
never  surpassed  by  a  Schamyl  or  Napoleon — he  soon,  in  spite 
of  his  rallying  opponents,  here  rapidly  concentrating  from 
every  part  of  New  England,  succeeded  in  wrapping  that  beau 
tiful  valley  in  fire  and  blood,  filling  it  with  mourning  and 
lamentation  for  the  perished  flower  of  its  youth  and  manhood, 
and  leaving  its  history  to  be  saddened  by  one  of  the  bloodiest 
pages  tli at  ever  marked  the  annals  of  an  American  colony. 

But  as  the  even'  3  of  this  sanguinary  campaign — which,  for 
the  next  three  months,  unceasingly  occupied  nearly  the  whole 
force  of  the  united  polonies  in  saving  the  devoted  valley  from 
entire  desolation  —  have  no  immediate  bearing  on  the  thread 
of  our  story,  now  fast  approaching  its  development,  we  must 
be  permitted,  with  this  cursory  notice,  to  skip  over  them, 
together  with  the  time  they  occupied,  in  order  to  be  allowed 

*  The  Mohegans,  whom  the  great  American  novelist  seems  to  have  de 
lighted  to  exalt  over  all  other  tribes  of  Indians,  were  uniformly  the  servile 
rdherents  of  the  whites  in  all  their  wars  with  the  natives,  and  were  there 
fore  every  where  branded  by  the  red  men  as  traitors  to  their  race.  The 
American  people  love  bravery  and  independence  of  character,  and  perhaps 
they  should  be  allowed  to  tickle  at  the  treason  once  so  useful  to  them. 
But  is  that  any  reason  why  they  should  now  any  longer  be  asked  to  con 
tinue  their  paeans  of  praise  over  a  nation  of  traitors? 


344  THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

more  space  for  the  description  of  the  great  event  which  was 
to  close  this  vear  of  disaster  and  blood,  and  whose  results, 
while  exercising  as  great  an  influence  on  the  fortunes  of  the 
war  as  those  of  any  other  that  occurred  in  its  progress,  were 
at  the  same  time  destined  to  become  the  turning  point  in 
the  fate  and  fortunes  of  nearly  all  the  different  personages 
whose  contrasted  characters  and  varied  experiences  we  have 
been  endeavoring  to  delineate. 

Slowly  and  dismally  broke  the  struggling  light  of  the  chill 
December  morning,  as  the  fifteen  hundred  stern  Puritan  f-ol- 
diers,  who  lay  bivouacked  round  the  smouldering  ruins  of  a 
block  house,  situated  on  a  western  arm  of  Narraganset  Bay, 
about  half  way  from  Providence  to  the  ocean.  The  united 
forces  of  Massachusetts,  Plymouth,  and  Connecticut  colonies, 
raised  by  prodigious  exertions,  and  composed  of  the  most 
brave  and  hardy  men  that  the  whole  of  New  England  could 
furnish,  had  reacheM  the  place  the  preceding  evening,  but 
only  to  find  the  garrison-house  of  their  appointed  rendezvous 
enveloped  in  a  mass  of  flames,  and  its  fated  score  of  its  in 
mates  and  defenders  lying  slain  and  scalped  around  the  busn- 
ing  pile,  from  which  they  had  been  driven  by  the  fire  to 
meet  the  preferred  alternative  of  dying  by  the  bullets  and 
tomahawks  of  the  infuriated  besiegers.  The  deed  had  been 
done  by  an  advance  party  of  Narraganset  warriors,  in  retalia 
tion  for  losses  sustained  by  them  the  day  before,  while  hover 
ing  on  the  flanks  of  the  army,  already  within  their  territory, 
and  evidently  approaching  for  hostile  purposes,  in  direct 
violation  of  existing  treaties.  But  neither  the  Puritan  offi- 
cers  nor  soldiers  were  the  men  to  think  of  being  turned  back 
by  the  loss  of  a  block-house,  although  it  was  the  only  one,  on 
this  long,  wild,  and  dreary  coast,  which  could  have  afforded 
them  the  shelter  of  a  roof  for  their  headquarters,  in  a  cam 
paign  so  peculiarly  liable,  under  the  circumstances,  to  disas 
trous  reverses.  And  besides  this,  their  wayside  sallies  upon 


THE   PURITAN    CAMP.  345 

their  flanking  opponents,  hnd  resulted  in  an  advantage  as 
little  expected  by  them  as  by  their  foes.  It  was  understood 
that  the  great  body  of  the  Narraganset  Indians  hnd  collected 
and  fortified  themselves  in  some  fastness  of  great  strength 
and  difficulty  of  access,  where,  like  the  luckless  Pequots  of  a 
former  period,  they  might  be  surprised  and  exterminated  at 
one  blow.  The  locality  of  this  stronghold,  however,  was  not 
known  to  a  siniile  man  in  the  army.  But  among  the  score  or 
two  of  prisoners  taken  in  their  skirmishes,  they  found  one 
who  was  base  enough  to  betray  his  people,  and  who  not  only 
pointed  out  the  fortified  retreat  of  his  tribe,  but  offered  to 
guide  the  army  to  the  spot.  And  this,  in  despite  of  the  fact 
that  they  would  have  no  place  to  retreat  to  but  an  open  snowy 
field,  in  case  of  failure  and  pursuit,  and  in  despite  also  of  the 
still  more  alarming  fact  that  their  provisions  were  utterly  ex 
pended,  and  the  promised  supply  of  more  had  failed  to  arrive 
— this  had  led  to  the  bold  decision  of  an  immediate  march 
for  the  retreat  of  the  enemy,  now  ascertained  to  be  about 
twenty  miles  distant. 

Although  the  morning  light  was  still  but  feebly  illuming 
the  thick  leaden  clouds  in  the  east,  yet  the  whole  army  w<-re 
already  on  the  stir.  Hundreds  of  bright  lights  were  blazing 
from  their  camp  fires,  around  which  sut  the  shivering  soidieis, 
partaking  their  last  rations,  and  gloomily  listening  to  the  sullen 
dashing  of  the  ice  cumbered  waves  along  the  shore,  or  the 
low,  portentous  roar  of  the  wind  moaning  through  the  sur 
rounding  forests.  Such  dismal  sounds  now  seemed  to  come 
in  sympathy  with  their  own  feelings  ;  for  they  were  bitterly 
thinking  of  the  day  before  them. 

Before  one  of  these  camp-fires,  moodily  and  alone,  sat  the 
veteran,  Captain  Mosely,  his  head  drooping  in  thought,  and 
his  ear  seemingly  dead  to  the  noise  and  commotion  around 
him.  Soon,  however;  his  attention  was  aroused  by  the  sound 


346  THE    DOOMED    CHIEF. 

of  an   approaching  footstep,  and   looking   up,  he   beheld  his 
friend,  Captain  Willis,  standing  at  his  side. 

u  Why  look  so  sober?"  said  the  latter,  in  his  usual  calm, 
cheerful  manner — "  what  are  you  pondering  so  gloomily, 
Captain  Mosely  ? — the  pretty  day's  work  upon  which  we  are 
about  to  enter  ?" 

"  Yes,  Willis,  yes." 

"  Well,  it  looks  dubious  enough,  certainly;  but  it  is  not 
likely  we  shallaW  be  killed." 

"  Oli,  no;  but  I  am  not  so  sure  but  every  single,  damned 
dog  of  us  all  ought  to  be." 

"  I  don't  understand,  at  all,  what  you  are  driving  at,  Cap 
tain  Mosely." 

"I  suppose  not.  Well  it  is  not  the  dangers  to  be 
encountered  which  I  shrink  from — pooh  !  no,  not  that  !" 

"What  is  it  then?" 

"  Why,  the  fact  is,  Captain  Willis,  I  have  some  conscience 
and  religion, and  would  like  to  beaChristian  in  these  matters  of 
war.  In  short,  I  don't  like  the  questionable  character  of  this 
expedition.  I  don't  like  the  idea  of  this  marching  an  army 
to  massacre  a  whole  tribe  of  Indian  people  with  whom  we  are 
at  peace." 

"  Not  at  peace  now,  Captain  Mosely.  The  commissioners  of 
the  colonies,  who  have  been  invested  with  full  power  for  such 
purposes,  after  a  long  session  at  Boston,  lust  month,  all 
united  in  issuing  a  formal  declaration  of  war  against  the  Nar- 


ragansets." 


"  True  ;  but  how  much  did  that  mend  the  matter  ?  A  de 
claration  of  war  without  cause,  is  nothing  less  than  a  Declara 
tion  of  intention  to  rob  and  murder.  And  what  are  the 
causes  which  these  wise  commissioners,  after  a  month's  drum- 
mine:  about  for  reasons,  were  able  to  set  forth  to  justify  their 
declaration  of  war  ?  Why,  forsooth,  firstly,  that  these- hellish 


THE    NARRAGANSETS.  347 

Narragansets  had  been  guilty  of  exercising  the  world-acknow 
ledged  rights  of  hospitality  towards  Philip's  women,  children, 
and  wounded  warriors,  whom  we  had  driven  out  starving  and 
mutilated  from  Montaup.  Ncxtfy,  for  being  guilty  of  killing 
a  two  year  old  bull  belonging  to  somebody.  Thirdly^  for  sur 
rounding  a  man's  house  till  lie  had  paid  for  something  that  he 
had  cheated  a  drunken  Indian  out  of.  Fourthly,  for  a  ru 
mored  rejoicing  at  some  of  our  reverses  on  Connecticut  river.- 
Fifthly i  for  being  deeply  guilty  of  a  suspicion  of  aiding  in  the 
war  against  us.  And  lastly,  and  astoundingly,  if  they  had  not 
already  been  so,  they  certainly  soon  would  be  !"* 

"  Nathless,  they  are  as  good  causes  of  war  as  those  given 
for  the  destruction  of  Canaan  by  the  Jews,  whose  examples  our 
rulers  are  so  fond  of  quoting,  and  so  intent  on  our  following." 

"  Just  about — just  about.  There  is  where  you  have  it, 
friend  Willis.  Aye.,  those  Jews  !  those  bloody  Jews  !  Pretty 
fellows  they,  to  be  quoted  !  Why,  of  all  the  remorseless  and 
coolly  calculating  devils  that  ever  claimed  to  be  a  nation,  they 

*  According  to  the  concurrent  testimony  of  history,  the  cornmisioners  here 
named  were  incited  to  set  this  expedition  afoot  solely  by  their  fears  and  suspi 
cions  that  the  Narragansets  intended  to  join  Philip  in  the  spring.  And 
being  thus  in  pressed,  and  being  determined  at  all  hazards  to  prevent  it, 
they  could  devise  no  way  of  doing  so,  but  by  attacking  them  in  their 
fastnesses  during  the  winter,  where  they  could  be  the  more  certainly  sur 
prised  and  destroyed.  But  as  the  colonists  were  at  peace  with  that  tribe, 
this  could  not  be  done  decently  without  a  formal  declaration  of  war,  and 
it  would  not  do  to  issue  a  declaration  of  war  without  setting  forth  some 
justifying  reasons,  or  ostensive  causes.  These  were  at  length  luckily  dis 
covered,  and  the  difficulty  was  over.  But  that  no  injustice  may  be  doue,  we 
copy  them  from  the  document  itself: — 

4<  For  that  the  Narragansets  are  believed  to  be  deeply  accessory  in  the 
present  bloody  outrages  of  the  bloody  natives — this  appearing  in  harbor 
ing  the  actors  thereof  —  relieving  and  succoring  their  women  and  chil 
dren,  and  wounded  men  —  in  their  killing  the  cattle  of  the  colonists,  as 
is  credibly  reputed — seizing  and  keeping  under  guard  Mr.  Smith  and  hia 
family,  and  in  having,  when  the  news  of  the  disaster  at  Hadley  ar 
rived,  in  a  very  reproachful  and  blasphemous  manner  rejoiced  thereat." 


318  THE   DOOMED    CHIEF. 

were — well,  well,  they  finally  furnished  us  the  blessed  Saviour 
— though  they  must  needs  murder  even  him — yet  they  did  fur 
nish  him  for  the  whole  of  us  lost  sinners  ;  so  I  will  be  mum 
about  them.  But  do  you  suppose,  Willis,  that  our  over  pious 
rulers,  in  taking  the  early  examples  of  the  Jews  for  a  pattern; 
ever  thought  of  the  final  fate  of  the  Jews,  who,  with  no  other 
great  national  crimes,  or,  at  least,  no  other  half  so  deserving 
divine  vengeance,  as  their  wholesale  murder  of  the  Canaanites, 
were  made  to  become,  after  a  comparatively  brief  run  of  pros 
perity,  one  of  the  most  broken  up,  scattered,  despised,  and 
G«»d- forsaken  people,  that  the  wide  earth  was  ever  compelled 
to  bear  upon  her  loathing  bosom  ?" 

"  No.  The  first  band  of  our  pilgrim  fathers  who  landed 
on  these  shores,  and  who  were  doubtless  one  of  the  purest 
flock  of  Christians  ever  collected,  never  spoke  of  the  examples 
of  the  Jews  in  driving  out  the  heathen.  That  is  the  discov 
ery  of  their  degenerate  successors  in  the  church  after  becom 
ing  politicians  ;  and  they  only  wish  to  avail  themselves  of  it 
as  a  convenient  justification  of  the  acts  that  grow  out  of  their 
covetousness  and  unholy  ambition.  But  we  should  not,  perhaps, 
be  very  forward  in  judging  our  rulers,  or  judging  for  them.  As 
to  this  expedition,  however,  I  must  say,  1  heard  of  it  with  sur 
prise,  and,  as  an  individual,  have  scarcely  less  scruples  than 
yourself,  about  the  policy  and  justice  which  moved  it.  Still,  as 
soldiers,  we  must  obey  the  powers  that  be,  and  throwing  our  pri 
vate  scruples  to  the  wind,  do  our  duty  bravely.  The  responsibil 
ity  of  the  right  or  the  wrong,  rests  not  on  us,  Captain  Mosely." 

"  That  is  true,  thank  God  ;  and  I  shaVt  be  backward  in 
facing  the  worst  dangers  we  may  be  called  on  to  encounter. 
Still,  if  I  am  killed,  the  first,  instant  I  set  foot  in  the  other 
world,  1  will  turn  State's  evidence,  and  tell  them  there  that  I 
joined  in  the  affair  only  from  a  sense  of  military  duty,  and 
directly  against  my  will  and  conscience.  But  what  think  you, 
Willis,  will  it  turn  out  a  butchery  or  a  fi^ht  V 


WINSLOW    IN    COMMAND.  349 

"  Perhaps  both,  hut  a  severe  fight,  any  way.  The  Indians 
always  know  of  the  very  first  movements  of  any  army,  and 
soon  gather  a  wonderful  accurate  opinion  of  its  purposes.  And 
if  they  had  any  doubt  about  the  design  of  ours  at  first,  our 
unceremonious  assaults  on  their  scouting  parties,  for  the  last 
two  days,  will  teach  them  what  they  are  to  expect  from  us. 
They  may  not  know  anything  about  the  communications  of 
this  traitor  guide,  and  therefore  be  surprised  that  we  have 
found  them  so  soon.  But  even  if  we  reach  there  to-day,  they 
will  be  prepared  to  give  us  as  much  fight  as  we  may  want." 

"  A  fight  it  will  be  then  ;  for  we  have  not  now  got  the  shilly 
shally  Cudvvorth  for  a  general,  but  the  iron-heeled  old  gover 
nor,  Winslow,  who,  how  much  soever  he  might  yield  to  bigot 
influences  at  court,  would,  as  a  military  leader  out  of  it.  stortn 
through  the  gates  of  hell  before  he  would  flinch  from  his  pur 
poses." 

"  Well,  he  may  have  to  do  it,  or  something  nearly  akin  to 
it,  before  he  shall  have  accomplished  his  object,  if  that  prison 
er's  account  of  the  formidable  character  of  the  defences  of  the 
enemy  be  true,  as,  from  a  close  examination  of  him,  I  became 
satisfied  it  was." 

"  Do  you  believe  Philip  and  his  warriors  to  be  there  to 
join  in  the  defence  of  the  place  ?" 

"  No,  Captain  Mosely,  there  can  be  no  more  room  there 
than  can  accommodate  the  numerous  Narragausets  and  their 
guests.  Besides,  Philip  is  too  active  and  restless  a  man,  with 
the  extended  arrangements  he  has  on  his  hands  abroad,  to 
shut  himself  up  there  in  idleness.  But  it  must  have  been 
Philip's  genius  that  planned  and  supervised  fortifications  eo 
strong  and  so  unusual  in  Indian  warfare.  Our  first  struggle 
will  be  to  set  within  them  ;  and  then  will  come  the  more  terrible 
one  of  making  headway  against  the  then  doubly  desperate 
three  thousand  defenders  we  shall  be  sure  to  find  there.  It 
will  be  bloody  work  ;  but  I  would  not  stay  away  if  I  could; 


850  THE    DOOMED    CHIEF. 

for  I  am  half  expecting,  half  fearing  to  find  somewhere  in 
that  enclosure,  those  whom  I  would  give  my  life  to  protect 
and  rescue." 

"  From  what  I  have  gathered  and  guessed  about  your  secret 
objects  and  anxieties,  I  think  I  understand  you,  friend  Willis. 
And  if  your  conjectures  should  prove  true,  though  I  doubt 
whether  they  will,  I  will  hold  myself  in  readiness  to  assist  you 
in  carrying  out  your  wishes.  But  hark  !  there  goes  the  long 
roll  of  the  drums,  and  there  rises  the  stern  voice  of  the  old 
general  giving  out  the  order  of  the  march.  We  must  away 
to  our  posts  of  duty." 

All  was  now  bustle  and  commotion  in  every  part  of  the  en 
campment.  And,  for  awhile,  the  noise  of  the  hoarsely  clam- 
oring  drums,  and  the  lively  fifes  piping  out  shrilly  on  the 
frosty  air,  of  the  quick  tramp  of  the  soldiery  hurrying  to  flu  ir 
places  in  the  ranks,  and  the  short,  stern  words  of  command, 
grumly  repeated  from  place  to  place  along  the  incipient  lines, 
by  the  officers  forming  their  respective  companies,  the  rattling 
of  muskets,  and  the  flapping  of  standard?  flaunting  on  the 
gusty  breeze,  together  with  the  appearance  of  stir  and  anima 
tion  which  everywhere  met  the  eye,  all  combined  to  form  a 
scene  in  singular  contrast  with  the  physical  gloom  of  the  hour 
and  a  still  more  striking  one  with  the  terrible  realities  which 
that  indomitable  army  were  destined  to  encounter  on  that 
memorable  day.  While  this  was  in  progress,  the  aspect  of 
the  heavens  had  been  growing  every  moment  more  and  more 
gloomy  and  ominous.  The  cold,  gray,  leaden  clouds  which 
the  first  light  of  the  dawn  had  revealed  thickly  curtaining 
the  east,  had  gradually  spread  upwards  and  around,  continu 
ally  growing  thicker  and  darker,  and  ever  and  anon  sending 
forth  those  short,  hollow  soughs  of  the  wind  that  are  known 
to  seamen  as  the  precursors  of  a  coming  storm.  But  neither 
the  portents  of  the  heavens,  the  discomforts  of  their  situation, 
nor  their  entire  destitution  of  provisions,  were  permitted  to  de- 


MARCH    TO    THE   GREAT    SWAMP.  851 

ter  the  hesitating  and  doubtful  troops,  from  the  contemplated 
march. 

"  Now  on  !"  rang  the  loud,  authoritative  voice  of  the  deter 
mined  old  veteran  in  command,  the  moment  he  saw  the  last 
lingering  squads  of  troops  taking  their  places  in  the  line  of 
march. — "  On  !  on,  for  that  nest  of  heathen  vipers, — on,  in 
the  name  of  God  !  for  he  hath  this  day  delivered  them  into 
our  hands." 

And,  accordingly,  on  they  moved  with  steady,  measured 
tread  through  the  cumbering  snows  of  the  sedgy  plain,  stretch 
ing  out  drearily  away  before  them  to  the  southwest,  in  the  sup 
posed  direction  of  the  doomed  stronghold  of  a  congregated 
nation  of  victims.  And  thus,  hour  after  hour,  they  labori 
ously  forced  their  weary  way  over  the  bleak,  snow  clad  hills 
and  plains,  which,  with  their  scant  forests  of  pine  and  oak, 
intervened  in  their  course,  until,-  after  a  cold  and  toil>ome 
march  of  nearly  fifteen  miles,  without  a  moment's  rest,  or  a 
mouthful  of  food,  and  cheered  only  by  the  sighing  of  the  winds 
as  they  swept  mournfully  through  shivering  forests,  or  the 
croaks  of  the  wild  ravens,  that,  with  hurried  flight,  were  oc 
casionally  seen  winging  their  way  overhead,  they,  at  length, 
reached  the  borders  of  the  great  swamp,  within  whose  dark 
recesses  was  somewhere  situated  the  formidable  object,  to 
which  they,  for  many  days-,  had  been  so  fearfully  looking  for 
ward.  But  imagination  could  scarcely  picture  a  place  moro 
dismal  and  forbidding  than  that  which  here  presented  itself 
to  the  eyes  of  the  amazed  and  recoiling  soldiers.  Far  away, 
as  the  eye  could  reach,  in  every  direction  in  front,  lay 
stretched  one  dark  unbroken  mass  of  thick,  tangled  and  seem 
ingly  impenetrable  forest.  And  when  the  well  warranted 
visions  of  secret  ambuscades,  which  would  probably  be  sprung 
upon  them  on  the  way,  and  the  death-dealing  vollics  of  a 
thousand  unseen  muskets,  which  would  certainly  greet  them 
when  they  approached  the  dreaded  fortress,  and  before,  per- 


852  THE  DOOMED   CHIEF. 

liaps,  a  single  shot  of  their  own  could  be  made  to  count  on 
the  enemy, 'rose  in  their  minds,  the  stoutest  hearts  quailed  be 
neath  their  assumed  looks  of  composure,  and  the  sternest 
visages  blanched  at  the  prospect  before  them. 

"  Fetch  me  hither  one  Willis,  I  think  they  call  him,"  said 
the  general  to  an  attendant,  as  soon  as  he  had  ordered  the 
halt  which  now  became  necessary  for  making  some  desired 
alterations  in  the  order  of  the  troops,  before  entering  the 
swamp — "one  Willis,  who  is  said  to  be  here  in  the  army 
somewhere,  with  a  band  of  volunteer  rangers.  Fetch  him 
hither  straightway,  as  I  would  see  him  immediately." 

The  attendant  hurried  off  on  the  bidding;  and  in  a  few 
minutes  the  surprised  arid  wondering  young  officer,  who  now 
for  the  first  time  had  been  noticed  by  any  of  the  military  dig 
nitaries  of  the  court  of  Plymouth,  came  forward  and  presented 
himself  before  the  general. 

"  Your  name  is  Vane  Willis?"  inquiringly  said  the  austere 
old  Puritan  commander,  after  sharply  eyeing  the  other  a  mo 
ment  in  silence. 

"  It  is,  your  Excellency,"  respectfully  but  unobsequiously 
replied  Willis. 

"  Well,  sir,"  resumed  the  former,  authoritatively,  "you  and 
the  men  who  act  with  you  are  said  to  know  something  of 
woodcraft,  and  the  fighting  of  the  salvages  in  their  own  fashion. 
If  so,  I  have  business  for  you," 

"  I  am  not  in  commission,  sir,"  responded  Willis,  with  a 
slight  tinsje  of  reproach  involuntarily  creeping  into  his  tones — 
"  I  am  not  in  commission,  sir,  nor  has  my  company  ever  been 
recognized  by  the  court  of  Plymouth." 

"No  matter,"  said  the  general,  gruffly,  "you  are  here  to 
fight,  like  the  rest  of  us,  I  suppose;  and  I  wish  you  to  take 
charge  of  our  Indian  guide,  and,  carefully  keeping  him  within 
the  lines  of  your  men.  so  that  he  cannot  escape,  and  following 
the  path  he  shall  point  out  for  you,  lead  the  way  with  him 


THE   INDIAN   GUIDE.  353 

forward  through  the  swamp  to  the  stronghold  of  the  Narra- 
gansets.  Now  away  to  the  duty.  Some  of  our  best  compa 
nies  will  follow  you  close  in  the  rear,  to  be  on  hand  in  case 
of  surprise  or  ambush." 

A  crowd  of  bitter  thoughts,  in  view  of  past  neglect,  flashed 
over  the  mind  of  the  young  officer  on  being  thus  deputed,  for 
his  first  official  recognition,  to  a  service  which  he  knew,  and 
the  general  knew,  every  other  company  in  the  army  would 
shrink  from,  and  if  possible  avoid.  But  he  prudently  re 
pressed  his  feelings;  and  knowing  that  his  company  could 
perform  the  dangerous  duty  better,  and  at  a  less  sacrifice  of 
life,  than  any  other,  he  bowed  his  acquiescence,  and  hastened 
away  to  prepare  his  men  for  entering  immediately  on  the 
allotted  service.  In  a  few  minutes  the  Indian  guide,  attended 
by  a  file  of  soldiers,  came  forward,  and  first  pointed  out,  by 
the  different  landmarks  discernible  from  reach  to  reach  along 
the  low,  far-stretching  forest  in  front,  the  proximate  locality 
of  the  distant  fortress,  and  then  the  circuitous  but  only  prac 
ticable  way  by  which  it  could  ever  be  reached.  Having  by 
these  means  obtained  a  pretty  correct  notion  of  the  course  to 
be  taken,  and  decided  on  the  most  feasible  place  for  entering 
the  swamp,  Captain  Willis  at  once  put  his  company  in  motion, 
and,  closely  followed  by  that  of  his  fearless  friend,  Captain 
Mosely,  who  had  claimed  the  privilege  of  leading  on  next  in 
order,  plunged  directly  into  the  gloomy  depth  of  the  frowning 
forest  before  him.  And  for  the  next  hour,  these  bold  and 
hardy  men  continued  to  struggle  unceasingly  onward  through 
th«  obstructing  boscage  of  the  deepening  thickets,  expecting 
every  moment  to  be  saluted  by  the  vollies  of  the  ambushing 
foe,  but  happily,  thus  far,  meeting  with  no  other  molestation 
than  what  arose  from  the  almost  insuperable  natural  difficulties 
they  every  where  encountered  on  the  way.  But  at  length, 
after  forcing  their  way  through  one  of  the  most  tangled  and 
wide-spread  jungles  they  had  attempted  to  penetrate,  they 
23 


354  THE    DOOMED    CHIEF. 

suddenly  came  out  upon  a  beaten  track,  which  at  first  seemed 
to  terminate  wholly  at  the  border  of  the  jungle,  but  which  a 
closer  inspection  showed  to  have  been  made  up  of  numerous 
small  and  scarcely  discernible  trails,  diverging  out  on  either 
side  towards  different  and  distant  points  on  the  borders  of  the 
pwamp.  Now  readily  believing  the  assertions  of  the  guide — 
whose  good  faith  they  had  begun  to  distrust — that  this  path 
led  directly  to  the  only  entrance  of  the  stronghold  of  the 
enemy,  they  here  made  a  short  halt,  to  await  the  approach  of 
the  companies  more  immediately  in  the  rear,  and  make  ar 
rangements  for  moving  on  more  cautiously,  and  in  a  manner 
which  should  better  ensure  them  against  surprises  from  the 
secret  ambuscades  which  they  would  now  be  more  likely  to 
encounter.  As  soon  as  these  objects  were  effected,  they  a^ain 
slowly  advanced  along  the  path  about  half  a  mile  further, 
intently  listening  for  suspicious  sounds,  and  keenly  inspecting 
every  doubtful  object  in  the  surrounding  woods  on  either  side 
of  the  way,  but  as  yet  wholly  unable  to  detect  so  much  as  the 
sound  of  a  stirring  leaf,  or  discover  the  least  indication  of  the 
presence  of  an  enemy.  All  at  once,  however,  the  guide,  who 
had  been  casting  wary  glances  through  the  thickets — now 
becoming  more  dense — a  little  distance  from  the  path  both  on 
the  right  and  the  left,  stopped  short  in  his  tracks,  and  point 
ing  to  an  opening  here  distinctly  disclosing  itself  through  the 
trees  about  a  furlong  in  front,  hastily,  but  in  low,  cautious 
tones,  exclaimed — 

"  There  !  there  the  place  ! — come  right  straight  to  it  now — 
me  get  kill,  me  go  further/' 

Finding  the  guide  could  not  be  induced  to  proceed  any  fur 
ther,  and  having  been  ordered  to  keep  him  under  his  own  eye, 
Captain  Willis  ordered  his  men  to  fall  back  two  or  three  rods 
into  the  woods,  and,  arranging  themselves  in  a  scattered  line 
on  the  left,  stand  ready  for  service,  as  a  flanking  party,  until 
the  forces  in  the  rear  should  advance  by  them  on  the  way  to 


THE   ACTION    BEGINS.  355 

the  scene  of  action.  In  a  few  minutes,  Captain  Mosely,  at 
the  head  of  his  company,  came  up,  and,  after  having  been 
significantly  pointed  ahead,  and  briefly  apprised  of  the  situa 
tion  of  affairs,  pushed  resolutely  forward  towards  the  open 
ing. 

"  I  don't  quite  fancy  this  ominous  silence,"  said  Captain 
Willis  to  his  trusty  lieutenant,  Noel,  as  the  two  officers,  who 
happened  to  have  taken  station  near  each  other,  were  stand 
ing,  like  all  their  men,  with  their  backs  placed  against  the 
protecting  trunks  of  large  trees.  lt  No,  I  don't  fancy  it  at  all," 
he  added  glancing  out  uneasily  into  the  forest. 

"  Nor  I,"  returned  the  other, "  nor  much  less  do  I  like  the 
looks  of  those  freshly  fallen  thicket  topped  trees,  strung  along 
there  on  both  sides  of  the  way  in  front,  just  about  far  enough 
back  to  make  the  best  coverts  for  mischief." 

"  Aye,"  quickly  responded  the  captain,  with  a  look  of  lively 
concern — "  I  see  them,  and  now  right  abreast  of  the  whole 
line  of  Mosely's  men.  And,  by  heavens  !  there  is  a  movement 
among  those  dark  boughs  !" 

At  that  instant  the  whole  forest  shook  and  rebounded,  as 
if  from  the  shock  of  an  earthquake;  while  countless  streams 
of  fire  and  smoke  were  fiercely  darting  out  from  the  suspected 
coverts  upon  both  flanks  of  the  advancing  column,  from  which 
strong  and  lusty  men  were  every  where  seen  pitching  heavily 
to  the  earth  under  the  leaden  storm  of  death,  which  had  so 
suddenly  burst  on  their  devoted  band. 

"  Charge  to  the  right !"  shouted  the  excited  Willis,  instantly 
comprehending  the  advantages  of  the  secreted  foe,  and  the 
danger  of  permitting  them  to  retain  their  positions  a  minute 
longer — "  charge  those  on  your  right,  Captain  Mosely.  I  will 
find  business  for  all  on  this  side ;  whether  they  count  by  hun 
dreds  or  thousands.  And  now,  boys,"  he  added,  turning  to 
his  impatient  men,  the  sharp  clicking  of  whose  cocking  fire 
locks  everywhere  proclaimed  their  readiness  for  action — "  now, 


356  THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

boys,  scatter  and  run  like  wild  horses,  till  you  get  round  to 
flanking  positions  near  the  hither  end  of  that  line  of  coverts, 
whence  the  fire  proceeded,  and  then  give  the  red  devils  a  death 
doom  for  every  bullet  you  send  after  them." 

With  marvelous  celerity  the  order  was  executed.  And, 
though  the  savages,  at  first,  seemed  determined  not  to  relin 
quish  their  chance  for  another  onslaught  on  the  white  forces, 
whom,  with  glistening  eyes  and  leveled  pieces,  they  saw  ap 
proaching  the  same  spot  where  the  first  company  had  been 
surprised,  yet  the  shots  of  the  closely  pressing  rangers  fell  so 
fast  and  fatally  on  their  exposed  ranks,  that  they  soon  broke, 
and  hotly  pursued,  fled  away  into  the  deep  recesses  of  the 
forest  to  the  south. 

"  Mosely,  I  conclude,"  said  Willis,  as  he  fell  in  with  his 
lieutenant,  as  they  were  retracing  their  steps  from  the  soon 
relinquished  pursuit  of  the  scattered  and  flying  foe — "  Mosely, 
I  conclude  from  the  distance  and  decrease  of  the  firing,  has 
been  as  successful  in  scattering  and  driving  off  the  enemy  on 
that  side,  as  we  have  on  this." 

"  Doubtless  ;  and  as  we  have  now  cleared  the  way  for  the 
main  body  of  our  forces,  nothing  remains  for  them  but  to  close 
up  and  finish  the  work,"  responded  the  other  carelessly. 

"  Finish  !  It  is  too  soon  for  us  to  use  that  word,  Noel," 
rejoined  Willis  seriously.  "  What  we  have  done  will  prove, 
I  fear,  but  boys'  play  to  what  is  to  come,  and  the  enemies  we 
have  seen  but  a  mere  handful  to  those  yet  to  be  encountered, 
and  in  positions,  too,  a  little  different  from  those  formed  by  a 
few  tree  tops." 

"But  do  you  fear  for  the  result?"  asked  Noel,  with  an 
anxious  look.  "  With  our  strong  force,  I  should  think  we 
could  hardly  fail  of  success." 

"  That  may  depend  wholly  on  the  manner  and  places  in 
which  we  attempt  to  carry  the  works,"  replied  the  former. 
"  One  serious  inistake;  in  this  respect,  may  be  fatal  to  our 


WILLIS   CLIMBS   A   LOOKOUT   TREE.  857 

success  j  and  I  feel  very  anxious  that  any  such  error  should 
be  prevented.  But  I  can  do  nothing — judge  of  nothing,  till 
I  can  get  u  view  of  the  whole  defenses.  That  must  be  my 
first  business.  And  stay  !  I  now  see  where,  and  how,  I  can 
effect  that  object." 

<k  How  ?"  enquired  the  lieutenant  with  an  air  of  mingled 
doubt  and  concern — "  how,  without  exposing  yourself  to 
certain  death  from  the  bullets  of  the  intrenched  enemy  ?" 

"  You  see  that  dark,  thickly  limbed  spruce  fir,  here  on  our 
left?"  said  the  captain  in  reply,  as  the  two  were  now  creeping 
through  the  screening  undergrowth,  directly  abreast,  and 
within  a  hundred  yards  of  the  supposed  locality  of  the  fortified 
enemy.  "  That  tree,  you  perceive,  greatly  overtowers  the 
shorter  growth  falling  off  towards  the  opening  beyond,  and  its 
top  must  afford  a  clear  view  of  all  I  wish  to  see." 

"  Yes ;  but  that  is  too  dangerously  near  to  think  of  risking 
yourself  there,  Captain  Willis,"  remonstrated  the  other. 

"  No,"  responded  the  former  confidently — "  no  danger — thf 
boughs  are  very  thick,  and,  rising  against  the  black  forest, 
here,  will  effectually  screen  me  till  I  can  climb  high  enough 
for  my  purpose.  You  keep  the  red  lurkers  at  a  safe  distance 
here  in  the  rear,  and  I  will  risk  all  dangers  from  the  front/* 
he  added  hurrying  away  on  his  hazardous  intent. 

On  reaching  the  foot  of  the  tree,  the  adventurous  herorapidty 
mounted  it  to  the  freight  of  twenty-five  or  thirty  feet;  when  per 
ceiving  himself  to  be  getting  above  the  tops  of  the  trees  be 
yond,  he  carefully,  and,  by  almost  imperceptible  degrees, 
worked  himself  up  closely  on  the  back  side  of  the  trunk  some 
ten  or  twelve  feet  higher.  Here  casting  about  and  catching 
such  imperfect  glimpses  of  appearances  without,  as  to  serve 
for  a  general  guide,  he  drew  out  his  pocket  knife,  and 
carefully  cut,  away  portions  of  the  boughs,  so  as  to  form  several 
email  loop-holes  for  different  views  in  front.  And  then,  after 
a  brief  pause,  he  secured  a  good  foot  hold,  grasped  a  strong 


358  THE  DOOMED  CHIEF. 

limb  with  one  hand,  slowly  swung  his  body  forward,  and 
cautiously  peered  out;  when  the  whole  scene  burst  at  once 
upon  his  amazed  vision. 

On  a  fully  cleared,  oblong,  dry  tract  of  land,  embracing  an 
area  of  six  or  eight  acres,  and  everywhere  surrounded  by  a 
deep  moat  of  partially  frozen  water,  stood  a  city  of  strongly 
built  log  wigwams,  ranged  compactly  in  rows,  extending  lat 
erally  from  one  border  of  the  island  to  the  other,  but  falling 
off  near  the  northern  and  southern  extremities,  so  as  to  leave 
broad  open  space,  at  each  end,  for  battle  grounds.  Around 
the  whole  island  jutting  down  perpendicularly  to  the  edge  of 
the  water,  on  all  sides,  was  extended  a  compact,  interwoven 
mass  of  large,  prostrate  trees,  about  eight  feet  high  in  front, 
and  nearly  as  many  in  thickness  ;  while  deeply  and  strongly 
inserted  between  the  outward  layers  of  the  trees,  round  their 
whole  extent,  stood  double  rows  of  heavy,  upright  timbers, 
sharpened  at  the  tops,  and  rising  many  feet  above  the  heads 
of  the  dark  lines  of  the  red  warriors,  who  were  seen  every 
where  manning  their  tremendous  ramparts, securely  crouching 
behind  their  bullet  proof  palisades.  To  the  whole  of  this  vast 
and  fearful  enclosure,  there  was  but  a  single  entrance.  At  the 
northeastern  extremity,  and  directly  facing  the  path  along 
which  the  white  troops  were  approaching,  the  wooden  rampart 
was  left  bare  of  palisades  for  a  distance  of  about  twenty  feet; 
but  instead,  a  rod  or  two  back  of  the  parapet,  stood  a  high 
block-house,  pierced  from  top  to  bottom  in  front,  with  long, 
regular  rows  of  dark  loop-holes,  and  fully  commanding  the  sin 
gle,  large  tree  trunk,  which,  extending  over  the  water  in  a 
line  with  the  path  here  coming  in  on  the  opposite  shore  to  the 
foot  of  the  rampart  beneath  the  block-house,  constituted  the 
only  visible  place  of  access,  and  which  was  thus  made  to  com 
plete  the  picture  of  this  formidable  stronghold  of  the  doomed 
nation  of  the  luckless  Narragansets. 

Scarcely  had  our  amazed  and  anxious  observer  found  time 


SLAUGHTER    OF    THE   WHITES.  359 

to  take  in,  from  his  lofty  perch,  all  the  different  objects  of  his 
hasty  survey,  before  he  noticed  a  lively,  but  subdued  commo 
tion  among  the  hordes  of  swarthy  warriors,  who,  before  but 
partially  revealed  to  his  view,  were  now  seen  rising  up  from 
behind  every  wigwam,  log,  and  stump  in  the  enclosure,  and 
s-tealthily  creeping  along,  with  .trailed  muskets,  towards  the 
open  space  at  its  northerly  extremity;  while  hundreds  of  dark 
muzzles  were  being  slowly  and  cautiously  protruded  through 
all  the  loop-holes  of  the  block-house,  and  every  crevice  in  the 
palisades,  for  some  distance  around  •  it.  Following  with  his 
eye  the  direction  indicated  by  these  ominous  movements, 
Captain  Willis  beheld,  with  emotions  of  unutterable  anguish, 
the  head  of  the  column  of  his  brave  companions  in  arms  emer 
ging  from  the  woods,  and  unsuspectingly  advancing  with 
hurrying  step,  directly  towards  the  end  of  the  log  leading 
over  to  the  entrance,  which  he  had  seen  to  be  so  fearfully 
guarded.  Overcome  by  his  sense  of  their  danger,  and  forget 
ful  of  his  own  exposed  situation,  he  shouted  aloud  to  them  to 
desist.  But  in  the  intense  excitement  of  the  moment,  his  words 
seemed  to  be  neither  heard  nor  heeded  by  friend  or  by  foe; 
and  the  next  moment  his  ears  were  greeted  by  the  loud  voice 
of  Captain  Johnson,  whose  company,  in  the  order  of  the 
march,  came  next  that  of  Captain  Mosely,  and  who  having 
reached  the  water,  was  now  heard  sternly  crying, 

"  Charge  !  charge  over  that  log  upon  the  works  beyond  ! 
and  let  no  man  hesitate  to  take  death  or  victory  for  his  watch 
word  !" 

Soon,  but  too  soon,  was  the  fatal  order  obeyed,  and  but 
too  soon  the  saddest  of  those  alternatives  to  be  realized.  A 
dozen  men,  fast  followed  by  more,  were  seen  quickly  filing 
away  over  the  long  tree-bridge,  and  led  on  by  their  resolute 
captain,  rapidly  making  their  way  to  the  rampart  on  the  other 
side.  There  was  then  a  moment  of  deathlike  silence,  during 
which,  many  a  low  crouching  head  rose  to  sight,  and  many 


360 


THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 


a  savage  eye  gleamed  triumphantly  along  the  nicely  poiseJ 
barrel  of  his  unerring  firelock.  And  then,  sudden  as  the 
bursting  thunder  clap,  the  rent  heavens  leaped  from  the  con 
cussion  of  a  hundred  exploding  muskets.  As  the  whirling 
cloud  of  smoke,  which  had  wrapped  moat,  block-house,  and 
palisade  alike  in  its  murky  folds,  lifted  and  floated  away,  that 
extended  trunk  was  found  to  bear  up  not  a  single  man  of  its 
late  score  of  occupants.  They  had  all  been  swept  down,  dy 
ing  and  dead  together,  into  the  dark  waters  below. 

The  young  officer  turned  away  sickened  and  appalled.  But 
before  he  could  realize  what  had  so  suddenly  passed  before 
his  eyes,  his  attention  was  again  drawn  to  the  spot  by  the 
rallying  shouts  of  the  next  company  in  the  rear,  who,  undis 
mayed  by  the  fate  of  those  that  had  preceded  them,  and  urged 
on  by  their  impetuous  leader,  Captain  Davenport,  came  rush 
ing  on  to  renew  the  fearful  experiment.  But  scarcely  was 
the  fatal  trunk  covered  by  the  devoted  band,  before  another 
tremendous  volley  burst  from  the  defenses  of  the  besieged 
red  men,  and  another  score  of  their  victims  were  swept  into 
the  moat. 

"  Merciful  God  I"  exclaimed  Captain  Willis,  "  is  there  no 
other  place  of  assault — no  diversion  to  be  effected  to  prevent 
this  wholesale  destruction  of  our  troops  ?" 

And  in  an  agony  of  anxiety,  he  quickly  withdrew  his  gaze 
from  the  spot,  and  eagerly  ran  his  eye  round  the  whole  cir 
cuit  of  the  island  ;  when  at  length  it  fell  upon  a  high,  leaning 
tree,  luckily  standing  on  the  shore  on  his  side  of  the  moat, 
but  a  short  distance  to  the  south,  and  tall  enough,  he  was 
confident,  to  reach  fully  across  the  water  to  the  works  on  the 
opposite  side.  His  plans  were  formed  in  an  instant;  and 
rapidly  swinging  himself  down  from  limb  to  limb,  from  his 
lofty  lookout  to  the  ground,  he  swiftly  made  his  way  back  to 
his  company,  who  by  this  time,  had  all  come  in,  and,  having 


FELLING    THE    TREE.  SOI 

heard  the  firinir  at  the  scene  of  action,  were  now  impatiently 
awaiting  his  arrival. 

"  Our  axemen — where  are  our  axemen  ?"  he  hurriedly  ex 
claimed. 

"  Here,  on  hand  and  ready  I"  promptly  replied  the  two 
rangers,  whose  duty  it  was  made,  in  every  campaign,  to  go 
always  provided  with  light  axes  swung  to  their  backs. 

"  Come  on,  then  !  one  and  all  come  or),  and  you  will  soon 
understand  what  I  want,"  cried  the  former,  striking  a  line 
through  the  woods,  with  his  excited  company  at  his  heels, 
for  the  helping  tree,  which  was  the  first  object  to  require  at 
tention  in  his  new  plan  of  operations. 

"  There  !"  he  resumed,  with  kindling  energy,  on  reaching 
the  spot,  and  pointing  to  the  tree  in  question,  "fell  me  that 
tree  square  across  this  ditch  of  water,  as  quick  as  your  best 
blows  can  be  made  to  do  it.  Fear  not  to  expose  yourselves. 
The  enemy  suspecting  no  attack  in  this  quarter  of  the  island, 
have  all  hurried  away  to  help  defend  their  main  entrance  at 
the  other  end,  where  they  are  cutting  down  our  vainly  as 
saulting  forces  by  scores.  But  put  in  there  with  your  axes, 
with  a  will ;  and  we  will  have  a  bridge  to  their  enclosure, 
and  be  down  on  their  rear  before  they  know  what  ails  them." 

The  woods  around  were  soon  resounding  with  the  fast  fall 
ing  blows  of  the  strong  armed  axemen,  who,  one  half  hour 
before,  would  not  have  lived  to  perform  a  moiety  of  their 
task.  But,  at  a  little  distance,  all  noises  of  this  kind  were 
effectually  drowned  by  the  roar  of  musketry,  which  now  more 
and  more  incessantly  rose  from  the  other  end  of  the  island  ; 
while  everv  eye  near  enough  for  observation,  was  too  absorb 
ingly  intent  on  what  was  there  transpiring,  to  heed  the  pre 
sent  movement:  for  the  third,  fourth,  and  fifth  attempt  had 
been  made  to  reach  the  desperately  defended  entrance  :  but 
thus  far,  only  with  the  same  disastrous  results.  And  now  the 
stern  and  unyielding  old  Puritan  general,  who  had  just 


302  THE    DOOMED   CHIEF. 

reached  the  sanguinary  scene,  was  heard  storming,  like  a 
chafed  tiger,  in  rallying  the  dismayed  troops,  and  in  goading 
them  forward  fur  another  onset. 

"She  begins  to  tremble,  captain,"  now  cheerily  cried  one 
of  the  choppers,  glancing  up  the  tree,  and  then  over  his 
shoulder  to  his  impatient  leader.  "  There  !  that  last  blow 
has  given  her  the  staggers  !  Now  look  out  for  her  last  kick  ! 
he  added,  as  he  and  his  fellow  axeman  scrambled  up  the  bauk 
to  get  beyond  the  reach  of  the  anticipated  recoil. 

With  a  sharp  crack  at  the  severing  stump,  and  a  sudden, 
toppling  bow  of  the  tufted  top  of  the  tall  stem,  the  tree,  with 
a  booming  roar,  came  crashing  down  upon  the  surface  of  the 
foaming  water,  and  the  smoking  parapet  beyond,  carrying 
away  half  a  dozen  of  the  strong  palisades  in  its  fall,  and  leav 
ing  open  a  clear  path  into  the  supposed  impregnable  enclosure. 

"  Now,  come  on,  boys — come  on  !"  shouted  Captain  Willis, 
mounting  the  prostrate  trunk,  while  it  was  yet  vibrating  beneath 
his  tread,  and  bounding  along  over  its  half  submerged  surface, 
with  his  whole  company  hastening  on  as  fast  as  possible  in  the 
rear. 

To  land,  collect,  and  throw  themselves  into  a  straggling 
line,  was  but  the  work  of  a  moment. 

"  Now,  forward  !"  cried  the  impatient  leader,  in  a  tone  that 
revealed  the  sternness  of  his  purposes.  "  On,  each  for  him 
self,  as  fast,  and  in  such  way  as  he  best  can,  to  the  last  coverts 
bordering  the  scene  of  action,  get  positions,  and  await  the 
order  for  a  cheer  and  a  volley." 

Instantly  dashing  forward,  with  the  rapid,  stealthy  boun  Is 
of  pnii thers  for  their  distant  prey — some  along  the  open  spaces 
near  the  lines  of  the  palisades,  and  the  rest  along  the  narrow 
lanes  winding  through  the  thickly  clustered  masses  of  the 
intervening  wigwams,  each  too  intent  on  reaching  his  destina 
tion,  to  heed  the  startled  looks  of  the  swarms  of  women,  chil 
dren,  and  disabled  old  men,  everywhere  encountered  on  the 


THE   PURITANS   PREVAIL. 

way,  they  had  all,  almost  before  the  minutes  could  be  counted, 
reached  their  appointed  stations,  and,  still  undiscovered,  now 
stood  eagerly  awaiti  ig  the  promised  order,  within  fifty  yards 
of  the  crowding  lines  of  the  multitudinous  foemen  all  too 
deeply  engrossed  with  the  dangers  in  front,  to  have  a  thought 
to  spare  for  any  that  might  arise  behind  them. 

The  expected  order  quickly  came;  and  the  next  instant, 
there  rose  from  the  mirgling  voices  of  the  gallant  little  band, 
a  shout  so  loud  and  wildly  defiant,  that  the  sound  rose  above 
the  roar  of  battle,  and  carried  its  thrilling  and  welcome  peal 
to  the 'sinking  hearts  of  the  army  without.  And  then  speed 
ily  followed,  square  into  the  turning  faces  of  the  astonished 
foe,  a  volley  from  the  well  aimed  pieces  of  the  rangers,  that 
brought  fifty  red  warriors  to  the  earth. 

Instantly  profiting  by  the  confusion  into  which  the  enemy 
had  so  manifestly  been  thrown  by  the  unexpected  attack  in 
their  rear,  the  daring  Captain  Mosely,  who  had  just  reached 
the  scene  of  action,  and  from  the  absence  of  the  rangers,  was 
looking  for  some  such  diversion,  ran  quickly  across  the  log 
that  had  been  fatal  to  so  many  others,  and,  closely  followed  by 
his  whole  company,  gained  with  them  the  rampart  in  safety; 
and,  the  next  moment,  with  the  look  and  roar  of  the  roused 
lion,  he  was  seen  heading  a  desperate  charge  upon  the  recoil 
ing  ranks  of  the  amazed  and  confounded  enemy. 

Soon  rallying,  however,  from  the  utter  consternation  which 
had  seized  them,  on  finding  themselves  so  unexpectedly  arid 
suddenly  assailed  by  an  unknown  force  in  the  rear,  and  at 
once  perceiving  their  fatal  error  in  permitting  their  opponents 
to  profit  by  their  confusion  so  far  as  to  secure  the  important 
advantage  of  a  foothold  within  the  works,  the  red  warriors 
instantly  threw  themselves  into  two  dense  lines,  extending 
from  side  to  side  across  that  end  of  the  enclosure,  and,  un 
flinchingly  confronting  their  assailants  on  both  sides,  soon 
wrapped  themselves  in  the  smoke  of  their  own  volleys,  which 


384  THE  DOOMED   CHIEF. 

now  burst  like  a  series  of  rapid  thunder  clnps  along  their 
lines.  And  then,  is  fresh  companies  of  the  colonial  forces, 
rushing,  one  after  inother,  through  the  storm  of  bullets  that 
greeted  their  thinning  ranks  on  the  way,  came  pouring  into 
the  enclosure, — then  commenced  a  conflict,  to  which,  for 
ferocity  arid  desperation  on  the  one  side,  and  unwavering  de 
termination  and  disciplined  bravery  on  the  other,  the  whole 
annals  of  war  scarcely  furnish  a  parallel. 

Musket,  sword,  knife,  and  tomahawk  were  wielded  in  the 
work  of  death,  as  never  before,  by  the  infuriated  combatants. 
Here  advancing,  here  receding,  and  here  gathering  afresh  for 
more  desperate  onsets,  the  living  tide  of  battle  swayed  for 
ward  and  backward,  like  the  conflicting  waves  of  a  cross  sea 
in  an  ocean  tempest.  The  dead  and  the  dying,  officer  and  sol 
dier,  plumed  chieftain  and  painted  warrior,  Puritan  and  savage, 
lay  everywhere  promiscuously  strewed  together  beneath  the 
fiercely  treading  feet  of  the  unheeding  survivors,  and  the 
beaten  earth  was  everywhere  encrimsoned  by  the  out-gushing 
life  blood  of  the  countless  victims  of  the  terrific  strife,  while 
the  incessant  and  deafening  crashes  of  musketry,  the  fierce 
clashing  of  hostile  steel,  the  agonizing  shrieks  of  the  wounded, 
the  hoarse  sjiouts  of  the  indomitable  white  soldiery,  and  the 
appalling  yells  of  the  maddened  red  warriors,  all,  commingling 
to  swell  the  dreadful  din,  rose  in  awful  tumult  over  the  shud 
dering  forests  around,  and  literally 

"Flung  o'er  that  spot  of  earth  the  air  of  hell." 

The  heavens,  which,  in  the  meanwhile,  had,  for  hours,  been 
growing  more  dark  and  threatening,  now  began  to  give 
earnest  token  of  the  near  approach  of  the  fearful  storm  that 
was  destined  to  close  this  day  of  carnage  with  its  superadded 
sufferings  and  woes.  A  tempestuous  wind  broke  howling  over 
the  vexed  wilderness  ;  and  with  it,  soon  came  the  wreathy 
undulations  of  the  driven  snow  beating  down  fast  and  fiercely, 
as  if  hastening  to  cover  from  the  sight  the  gory  horrors  of  the 


DREADFUL    SLAUGHTER   OF   THE    INDIANS.  365 

bnttle  field.  But.  the  maddened  combatants,  in  the  demoniac 
fury  with  which  they  w^re  plying  the  work  of  death,  heeded 
neither  snow  nor  tempest,  nor  aught  else  coining  between 
them  and  the  objects  of  their  mutual  hate  and  vengeance. 
And  thus,  alternately  driving  and  driven  across  the  blood- 
drenched  field,  for  more  than  another  terrible  hour,  unceas 
ingly  raged  the  desperate  conflict 

At  length,  however,  the  force  of  discipline  began  percepti 
bly  to  prevail ;  and  the  red  warriors,  whose  lines  had  become 
sensibly  weakened  by  their  fearful  losses,  slowly  fell  back 
among  the  wigwams,  and  there,  for  awhile,  with  the  new  ad 
vantages  of  partial  coverts,  made  their  final  stand,  fighting 
wilh  desperate  ferocity  in  their  last  hope  of  saving  their  help 
less  women  and  children.  But  the  fierce  and  rapidly  repeated 
charges  of  the  white  forces,  exasperated  to  madness  by  the 
sight  of  their  dying  and  dead  companions,  over  whose  writh 
ing  or  lifeless  forms  they  were  constantly  treading,  soon  visi 
bly  counted  on  the  now  irregular  and  broken  lines  of  the 
weakened  warriors,  who,  still  desperately  disputing  the  ground 
foot  by  foot,  gradually  retreated  from  wigwam  to  wigwam  till 
they  reached  the  last  division  of  the  devoted  village  ;  where 
now  were  soon  to  be  added  new  and  more  revolting  features 
to  the  dreadful  scene. 

As  the  dividing  bands  of  the  on  rushing  troops  advanced 
among  the  wigwams,  the  frightened  inmates,  consisting  of 
women,  children,  and  cripples,  poured  from  every  door  in  the 
hope  of  escape,  but  were  everywhere  struck  down,  in  their 
helplessness,  by  sword,  bullet,  or  clubbed  musket,  without 
mercy  or  compunction.  And  not  content  with  this,  these  in 
furiated  Christian  soldiers,  who  had  become  demons  of  wrath 
and  destruction,  whom  their  heathen  opponents  might  well 
'have  blushed  to  own  as  fellow  creatures,  applied  the  blazing 
torch  to  the  inflammable  roofs  of  every  cabin  in  their  way, 
many  of  which  Fere  still  filled  with  deserted  infants  or  bed- 


366  THE    DOOMED    CHIEF. 

ridden  warriors.  *  And  the  out-bursting  flames,  which  quickly 
revealed  themselves  along  the  whole  northern  lines  of  the 
wigwams,  being  instantly  caught  up  and  swept  forward  by  the 
blasts  of  the  tempest,  went  leaping  onward,  like  a  swiftly  pas 
sing  army  of  fiery  serpents,  from  cabin  to  cabin,  and  spread 
with  such  inconceivable  rapidity,  that  within  one  half  hour,  the 
whole  extended  village  was  hopelessly  within  the  grasp  of  the 
devouring  element.  A  scene  of  terrific  grandeur,  combined 
with  more  appalling  horrors  than  all  which  had  yet  transpired, 
now  speedily  followed.  Here,  dimly  disclosed  in  the  spread 
ing  smoke,  were  seen  dark  groups  of  red  warriors  casting  their 
discharged  guns  to  the  ground,  and,  in  the  frenzy  of  their 
rage  and  despair,  leaping  over  the  charging  muzzles,  upon 
their  foes,  to  close  in  the  fatal  embrace,  and  sink  with  them 
to  the  earth.  There  decrepit  old  men,  unable  to  fight,  but  dis 
daining  to  flee,  were  singing  their  death  songs,  and  then  with 
shouts  of  maniac  laughter,  throwing  themselves  headlong  into 
the  fl.tmes  of  their  burning  wigwams.  And  there  again  went 
up  the  wild  clamor  of  mingling  shout  and  war-whoop  from 
parties  of  the  exasperated  combatants,  who  had  suddenly  met 
and  rushed  together  in  deadly  conflict ;  while  far  and  wide 
over  the  whole  extent  of  the  fire-wrapped  village,  rose  to  the 
pierced  heavens,  shrieks  after  shrieks  from  the  scores  of  inno 
cent  victims,  who,  unable  to  escape,  were  perishing  in  the 
flames.  But  the  shouts  and  war-whoops  of  scattering:  con 
flicts,  the  outcries  of  alarm  and  distress,  and  screeches  of  mor 
tal  a«rony,  as  loud  and  terrible  as  they  fell  on  the  recoiling 
ear,  were  soon  overpowered  and  lost  in  the  explosive  out-bursts 
which  now  every  where,  and  almost  simultaneously,  ensued  in 
the  progress  of  the  universal  conflagration.  Then  a  hundred 
black  columns  of  smoke  shot  up,  in  swiftly  whirling  eddies, 
to  the  clouds,  and  there  uniting,  hung,  for  awhile  the  broad 
heavens  with  the  pall  of  midnight,  sending  forth,  as  they  as 
cended,  a  fierce,  crackling  roar,  which,  mingling  with  the 


FIRING    THE    INDIAN    WIGWA.  IS.  367 

howling  of  the  tempest,  mi<rht  have  out-sounded  the  wildest 
tumult  of  a  storrr>-beaten  ocean.  Then  clear  and  bright,  as 
the  jets  of  blazing  furnaces,  rose  the  wreathing  spouts  of  liv 
ing  fire,  which,  being  again  struck  and  leveled,  as  at  first,  by  a 
fresh  blast  of  wind,  streamed  onward  in  almost  unbroken  sheets 
of  flame  over  the  whole  area  of  the  consuming  mass,  and  con 
verted  it  into  a  surging  lake  of  fire,  that  ca.st  its  lurid  glow 
far  and  wide  over  the  dark  forests  around,  and  clothed  in 
crimson  the  stormy  and  smoke  mingled  clouds  above. 

But  we  will  here  cease  any  further  attempts  at  a  general 
description  that  must  fall  so  far  short  of  the  terrible  realities 
of  the  scene,  and  return  to  the  gallant,  though  still  unac 
knowledged  young  officer,  whose  individual  fortunes  we  have 
undertaken  to  follow  in  the  expedition,  upon  the  results  of 
which  he  had  exercised  such  an  important  agency, 

When  the  regular  troops  had  succeed  in  driving  the  ?nv?ig« 
forces  back  among  the  cabins,  Captain  Willis  gradually  re 
treated,  so  as  still  to  keep  the  latter  between  the  two  fires  of 
their  opponents.  And  thus  fighting  and  falling  back,  he  had 
reached  the  southern  line  of  the  village  ;  when  he  discovered 
th".  soldiers  setting  fire  to  the  wigwams  at  the  other  extre 
mity.  Seeing,  at  a  glance,  that  unless  a  stop  was  at  once  put 
to  this  suicidal  proceeding,  the  whole  village  must  be  speedily 
destroyed,  and  with  it  the  provisions  and  shelter  which  h*» 
believed  to  be  indispensable  to  the  safety  of  the  army,  he  left 
his  lieutenant  in  command,  and  made  his  dangerous  way  alone 
back  to  General  Winslow,  and  urged  him,  in  view  of  the 
hungered  condition  of  the  men,  and  the  alarming  aspects  of 
the  cold  and  stormy  night  before  them,  to  order  instantly  the 
incendiaries  to  desist  and  the  fires  to  be  extinguished.  But 
his  entreaties  and  suggestions  finding  no  favor  with  the  bigo 
ted  commander  and  his  officers,  who  sneeringly  told  him  they 
"  c-ame  riot  to  save  but  to  destroy  the  nested  heathen,"  he 
sadly,  and  with  a  boding  heart,  returned  to  his  company. 


368  THE    DOOMED    CHIEF. 

I3y  this  time  perceiving  with  alarm,  from  the  rnpid  progress 
the  fire  was  making,  that  the  whole  village  must  soon  be 
wrapped  in  flames,  and  urged  on  by  his  private  anxieties  for 
the  fate  of  one,  who,  after  seemingly  flitting  before  him  for 
months,  like  some  illusive  vision,  must,  he  thought,  at  last 
be  found  here,  either  as  guest  or  captive;  he  again  rushed 
forth  alone  for  the  hazardous  adventure  of  threading  the 
crooked,  pent  lanes  of  the  burning  town,  for  the  rescue  of  the 
loved  object  of  his  search,  who  must  now  be  brought  or 
driven  from  her  concealment  by  the  fast  invading  flames. 
And  on  he  madly  plunged  through  smoke  and  tire,  regardless 
of  the  bullets  and  tomahawks,  that  were  often  hurled  after, 
and  several  times  wounded  him,  till  he  had  encompassed 
nearly  the  whole  place  in  the  various  turns  and  devious 
courses  he  had  taken,  in  the  eager  prosecution  of  his  design. 
But  all  in  vain.  Though  he  keenly  sc-arined,  as  lie  darted 
onward,  every  one  of  the  many  flying  groups  of  women  and 
children  he  encountered,  his  eye  was  greeted  with  no  form 
which  could  be  taken  for  the  idolized  object  of  his  solicitude. 
And  he  now  paused  in  the  partial  screen  of  a  freshly  burst 
ing  smoke  cloud,  to  take  breath,  and  decide  what  further 
measures  could  be  taken  in  furtherance  of  his  purpose. 
While  thus  occupied,  he  noticed  for  the  first  time  that  the 
firing  had  nearly  ceased  on  both  sides;  and  at  the  same  time, 
he  recalled  the  hitherto  unheeded  circumstance,  that  every 
group  of  fugitives,  whether  of  warriors  or  women,  whom  he 
had  seen  or  encountered,  were  all  rushing  in  one  direction, 
and  that  was  evidently  some  particular  point  on  the  west  side 
of  the  island,  over  which  a  dense  cloud  of  smoke  had  for  some 
time  been  shutting  down  closely  to  the  ground.  Instantly 
starting  with  the  new  thought  which  these  facts  suggested, 
he  rapidly  made  his  way  towards  the  indicated  point  of  egress 
or  assembling,  and  soon  reached  a  stand  where  the  whole 
movement  stood  explained  to  his  view.  A  rude,  but  capa- 


WILLIS    AND    THE    STRANGER. 

cious  draw-bridge,  which  had  previously  been  prepared  and 
concealed  under  the  ramparts  for  such  an  emergency,  had 
been  hastily  pushed  across  the  moat,  and  the  entire  body  of 
the  surviving  red  warriors  h;id  already,  under  cover  of  the 
dense  smoke  driven  by  the  wind  in  that  direction,  made  their 
escape  over  it  into  the  dark,  tangled,  and  almost  impassable 
cedar  forest,  closely  encircling  the  moat  on  that  side  of  the 
island;  while  the  last  straggling  groups  of  their  women  were 
then  passing  over  the  bridge,  and  hurrying  away  into  the 
thickets  beyond.  But  among  them,  as  among  all  who  had 
been  previously  scanned,  no  semblance  or  trace  of  the  lost 
maiden  was  to  be  discovered.  And  Willis,  sad,  disappointed, 
and  weakened  by  the  loss  of  blood  from  his  wounds,  of  the 
effects  of  which  he  now  for  the  first  time  became  sensible, 
was  turning  dejectedly  away  from  the  spot,  when  he  suddenly 
encountered  a  doubtfully  garbed,  unarmed  man.  who  was  evi 
dently  intent  on  gaining  the  bridge  to  join  in  the  general 
rush  of  the  fugitives.  At  first  taking  him  to  be  one  of  the 
enemy  with  concealed  arms,  our  hero  instantly  roused  him 
self,  and  throwing  back  his  sword,  stood  in  the  menacing 
attitude  of  one  about  to  strike  in  anticipation  of  an  assault 
from  another. 

"  Hold  !"  cried  the  man,  with  a  calm,  fearless  look,  and  in 
pure  English  accents — "  have  you  not  already  here  slain 
enough  of  the  defenceless  and  innocent,  that  you  would  cut 
down  a  man  who  has  never  been  in  arms  against  you^?" 

"  Not  against  us  ?"  returned  Willis,  surprised,  disarmed, 
and  hesitating,  under  the  undefined  sensations  created  by 
something  he  saw  or  read  in  the  look  and  manner  of  the 
other — "  Not  in  arms  against  us  ?  How  came  you  here,  then  ?" 

tl  As  a  £uest,  sir,"  replied  the  stranger  fearlessly — "  as  a 
guest  of  this  hapless  people  of  the  woods  whom  your  army 
have  this  day  visited  with  such  an  unprovoked  massacre." 

'•'  /  have  shed   no   innocent   blood/'  responded   the  officer, 
24 


THE    DOOMED    CHIEF. 

too  sensible  of  the  justice  of  the  implied  rebuke  to  permit  of 
angry  retort.  "  1  have  shed  no  blood,  except  that  of  oppo 
nents  in  arms  against  us.  But  whether  you  should  be  ranked 
among  them,  I  may  not  perhaps  be  warranted  in  affirming  con 
trary  to  your  statement.  Nathless,  it  will  be  my  duty  to  de 
tain  you  as  a  prisoner." 

"  I  will  not  be  made  a  prisoner,"  said  the  other,  firmly. 

"  Then  I  must  force  you,"  rejoined  the  former,  again  draw 
ing,  but  less  resolutely. 

"  Hold !  I  once  more  entreat,"  exclaimed  the  stranger, 
quickly  stepping  up  to  the  very  point  of  his  opponent's  half- 
raised  weapon,  and  inspecting  it  with  a  keen,  earnest  look. 
"It  is  as  I  thought  at  the  first  glance — it  is  the  one,  and  a 
mystery  is  solved.  But  can  he  who  is  permitted  to  bear  that 
sword  think  of  imbruing  it  in  the  blood  of  a  guiltless,  unarmed 
man,  and  especially  in  that  of  one  who — Oh,  heaven  !  what 
misery  in  such  a  forecast ! " 

''This  sword!"  exclaimed  Willis,  in  surprise  and  excite 
ment.  "  What  know  you,  sir,  of  this  sword  ?  Tell  me — tell 
me  instantly  !" 

"  That  I  may  not  do,"  thoughtfully  but  firmly  responded 
the  other.  "No,  it  were  better  for  all  concerned  that  no 
further  disclosure  at  present  be  made.  But,  see  !  the  smoke 
is  lifting  from  the  moat.  We  can  neither  of  us  much  longer 
remain  here  in  safety.  Let  me  go." 

"  I  cannot  part  with  you  thus,"  cried  the  perplexed  and 
strangely  disturbed  officer.  "  I  will  not.  I  must  know  more 
of  you.  Trust  yourself  with  me  as  a  prisoner." 

"Nay,  it  were  even  safer  that  you  become  my  prisoner, 
instead,"  replied  the  stranger,  throwing  an  anxious  glance  at 
the  now  blanching  and  blood-stained  face  of  the  other.  "  You 
could  not  protect  me,  even  on  this  field,  much  less  in  the 
settlements,  if  you  and  your  army  are  ever  destined  to  reach 
there.  You  are  evidently  a  badly  wounded  man,  and  cannot 


THE    STRANGER    CARRIES    OFF   WILLIS.  371 

keep  on  your  feet  much  longer.  Why,  sir,  you  are  already 
trembling  and  staggnring  to  the  fall." 

It  was  so.  The  words  were  scarcely  uttered  before  the 
wounded  officer  sunk  down  senseless  to  the  earth.  Instantly 
starting,  the  anxious  stranger  ran  back  a  few  rods,  to  a  dead 
warrior — who  had  breathed  his  last  in  drawing  himself 
towards  the  bridge — stripped  off  his  blanket,  ran  back,  hastily 
wrapped  it  round  the  swooned  officer,  lifted  him  with  main 
strength  on  to  his  shoulder,  hurried  staggering  over  the  bridge 
with  his  burden,  and  quickly  disappeared  in  the  forest,  where 
we  must  leave  them  for  the  present,  to  note  the  closing  scenes 
of  death  and  suffering  which  were  still  to  mark  this  sanguinary 
and  dear  bought  triumph  of  the  indomitable  Puritans. 

All  the  readily  inflammable  materials  of  the  wigwams 
having  been  consumed,  and  the  fires  from  the  solid  timber 
having  so  subsided  as  to  permit  near  approaches,  the  troops 
now  forced  their  way  over  the  whole  enclosure.  But,  to  their 
surprise,  not  an  enemy  was  to  be  found.  They  had  all 
vanished,  and  as  the  draw-bridge  had  been  removed,  no  one 
could  tell  how  or  where.  They  were  not,  however,  left  long 
in  their  wonder  and  suspense.  In  a  few  minutes,  their  scat 
tered  forces  were  every  where  greeted  by  a  sudden,  irregular 
fire,  bursting  from  unseen  foes  all  along  the  border  of  the  dark 
forest  on  the  west,  and  falling  on  their  recoiling  ranks  with 
/.tal  effect.  A  rally  was,  indeed,  made,  and  a  few  volleys 
returned,  but  with  no  other  effect  than  to  draw  a  thicker  and 
more  deadly  fire  from  the  concealed  and  evidently  unharmed 
enemy.  To  attempt  to  charge  into  such  a  thicket,  in  the 
gathering  darkness  of  night,  were  worse  than  useless;  while 
to  remain  on  the  island,  where  their  ranks  were  so  rapidly 
thinning,  and  where  the  lights  of  the  fires  made  them  con 
spicuous  targets  for  the  sharp-shooting  foe,  were  but  to  court 
death  for  their  whole  army.  Then  was  the  blind  folly  of 
firing  the  wigwams  brought  painfully  home  to  the  bigot 


372  ,  THE   DOOMED    CHIEF. 

commander;  and  "Retreat!  instantly  retreat  for  the  settle 
ment!"  was  now  sounded  from  company  to  company  through 
the  half  panic-stiuck  army,  who  were  the  next  moment  seen 
hastily  gathering  up  their  wounded,  and  disorderly  rushing 
from  the  island.  But  what  pen  can  describe  the  woes  and 
sufferings  of  the  fearful  retreat  through  the  now  deep  and 
trackless  snows  of  forest  and  field,  the  intense  cold,  the  blind 
ing  darkness,  and  the  pitiless  storm,  of  that  terrible  night? 
And  who  can  tell  how,  exhausted  with  toil  and  hunger,  they 
ever  reached  their  destination,  as  history  tells  us  they  did 
before  morning,  though  with  the  loss  of  most  of  their 
wounded,  frozen  stiff,  and  cast  aside  on  the  way  ? 

Thus  ended  this  memorable  swamp  fight  with  the  Indians, 
which  resulted  in  the  destruction  of  one  half  of  the  Narra- 
ganset  nation,  and,  including  all  the  resulting  deaths,  full 
one  fourth  of  the  Puritan  army. 


CBOCKER  AND  WILLIS.  878 


CHAI PER   XIX. 

"  Not  unavenged — the  foeman  of  the  wood 
Beheld  the  deed,  and  when  Hie  midnight  shade 
"Was  stillest,  gorged  his  battle  axe  with  blood  ; 
All  died — the  wailing  babe — the  shrieking  maid— 
And  in  that  flood  of  tire  that  seath'd  the  glade, 
The  roofs  went  down  j — " 

WE  will  now  return  to  our  wounded  hero,  who,  being  sup 
posed  to  be  slain  and  consequently  abandoned  by  his  company, 
had  so  singularly  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the  mysterious  stran 
ger,  whom  the  reader  has  doubtless  already  identified  with 
the  hunted,  unknown  man,  who,  passing  by  the  name  of 
Crocker,  was  rescued  by  King  Philip  from  assassins  at  the 
Leonard  establishment,  as  described  in  a  former  chapter. 

On  recovering  his  consciousness,  Captain  Willis  found  him 
self  lyiny:  on  bearskins,  underlaid  with  boughs,  in  a  small 
wigwam,  which  proved  to  be  one  of  a  scattered  group  of  tern* 
porary  huts  erected  and  occupied  by  the  Indians,  while  pre 
paring  the  more  permanent  abodes  on  the  island  but  a  few 
hundred  yards  distant.  The  closely  interweaving  limbs  of  the 
thick,  dark,  evergreen  trees  above,  had  almost  solely  shut  out 
the  storm  that  was  howling  abroad  over  the  night-shrouded 
wilderness.  The  uproar  of  the  battle  and  the  conflagration 
was  all  hushed  :  and  the  place  seemed  one  of  comparative  comfort 
and  quietude.  A  bright  fire,  over  which  a  small  kettle  of 
venison  broth  was  simmering,  was  blazing  near  the  feet  of  the 
wounded  captive,  if  so  he  might  be  called;  and  his  captor  was 
anxiously  bending  over  him;  examining  and  dressing  his 


374  TBE    DOOMED    CHIEF. 

wounds,  some  of  which  were  found  to  be  deep  and  dangerous. 
Perceiving  his  patient's  return  to  his  senses,  and  noticing  his 
bewildered,  uneasy  looks,  attended  with  indications  of  attempt 
ing  to  rise,  the  stranger  made  a  quick,  forbidding  gesture,  and 
said, 

"  Be  calm  and  content.  You  are  in  safe  hands.  By  claim 
ing  you  as  my  prisoner,  whom  I  would  save  for  a  ransom,  I 
am  permitted  to  do  with  you  as  I  please,  without  question  or 
interference." 

"  Well,  I  am  in  your  power,"  feebly  responded  the  other, 
pausing  and  starting  as  if  in  doubt  whether  the  weak,  hollow, 
sounds  he  was  uttering,  could  be  his  own  voice — "  Yes,  I  recall 
it  all,  now.  I  am  wounded,  and  very  weak,  and  doubtless  at 
your  disposal  whatever  your  intentions.  But  first  tell  me 
where  I  am." 

"  Within  a  furlong  of  the  sad  scene  of  this  day's  butcheries* 
which  needed  not  the  glow  of  the  conflagration  to  make  the 
heavens  blush  for  the  deeds  of  a  self-dubbed  Christian 
colony." 

"  You  speak  plainly,  sir ;  and  would  to  God  I  could  gain 
say  you — at  least  so  far  as  relates  to  that  revolting  onslaught 
on  ihe  women  and  children.  But  I  hear  no  firing — where  are 
the  conquering  army  now  ?" 

u  Gone — wholly  gone.  The  warriors,  more  than  half  of 
whom  had  survived^the  fight  and  escaped  unperceived,  quickly 
arranged  themselves  along  the  borders  of  the  thickets  on  this 
side  the  moat,  and  as  soon  as  the  smoke  scattered,  poured 
such  a  continued  and  destructive  fire  on  the  now  unprotected 
and  plainly  seen  troops,  that  they  shortly  were  compelled  to 
evacuate  the  island  and  beat  a  final  retreat." 

"  It  has  resulted,  then,  as  I  feared,  when  I  remonstrated 
against  setting  fire  to  the  village.  But  what  sufferings  must 
ensue  before  those  exhausted  troops  can  reach  the  settlement, 


FUNERAL  WAIL  OP   THE  INDIANS.  375 

tTicw  dark  and  snow-drifted  rout,  in  such  a  night  of  cold 
and  storm  as  this  !" 

u  Aye,  well  may  you  be  dubious  about  their  fate.  The  ua- 
wounded  may  possibly  reach  their  destination  ;  but  most  of 
the  wounded  must  inevitably  perish.  And  fortunate  it  was 
for  you,  sir,  that  I  bore  you  here  as  I  did  ;  for  even  had  you. 
been  found  and  taken  by  your  comrades  from  the  field,  you 
could  never,  in  your  condition,  have  reached  the  cattlemen!. 
alive." 

"  It  may  be  so.  At  all  events,  I  will  not  repine  at  fhc 
misfortunes  which  brought  me  here,  nor  what  Providence  may 
still  have  in  store  for  me.  And  who  ever  you  may  be,  and 
whatever  your  motives  and  intentions — hark  ! — what  is  that? 
—what  wild  outbreak  is  that  ?  Is  it  the  herald  of  a  renewed 
conflict !"'  added  the  speaker,  as  a  loud,  shrill,  prolonged  cry  cf 
mingling  voices,  so  wild,  so  unearthly,  and  at  the  came  time 
so  mournful,  as  to  cause,  for  the  moment,  both  captive  and 
c;iptor  to  shrink  back  appalled,  sent  its  deep  vibrating  thrill 
far  back  into  the  dark  recesses  of  the  forest. 

"  No,"  replied  Crocker,  after  a  pause  j  "  that  is  no  battle 
cry.  It  is  the  funeral  wail  of  the  Indians  over  their  collected 
dead.  They,  on  learning  from  the  scouts  sent  out  for  tho 
purpose,  that  the  white  forces  were  in  full  and  eager  retreat, 
all  went  over  to  the  island  to  extinguish  the  fires  of  such  wi?*- 
warns  as  might  be  partially  saved,  to  rescue  what  corn  they 
mio-ht  from  the  burning  store-houses,  and  to  see  to  their  dead 
and  wounded." 

The  wounded  officer  was  about  to  push- his  inquiries,  when 
the  other,  glancing  at  his  pallid  face  and  trembling  lips,  mo 
tioned  to  him  to  desist,  and  snid  : — 

"These  things  are  exciting  you,  I  perceive.  You  mt:«t 
keep  entirely  quiet.  I  have  in  readiness  here  some  wana 
broth  for  your  nourishment.  Take  it,  and  sleep  as  much  33 
the  pa\n  of  your  wounds  will  let  you." 


BTfi  THE   DGGXED   CHIEF. 

3o  r,nyin«r,  Crocker,  producing  from  a  corner  of  t!ie  hat 
a  small  wooden  bowl,  filled  it  with  the  ^moking  bever«£c,  ad 
ministered  it  with  all  the  tenderness  of  an  experienced  nurse 
to  the  acquiescing  invalid,  and  carefully  adjusting  his  bed  and 
covering,  silently  took  his  post  as  a  watcher  by  his  side.  In 
a  few  minutes,  the  exhausted  invalid  had  sunk  into  a  quiet 
and  profound  slumber,  when  his  anxious  nurse  and  protestor 
carefully  rose,  put  the  fire  in  a  condition  so  that  it  could  not 
endanger  the  cabin  or  its  helpless  occupant,  and  then  noise 
lessly  stole  away  to  the  island,  to  see  v/hit  was  there  transpi- 
linc*,  which  it  miiiht  particularly  c^n::ern  hiiu  to  know. 

On  teaching  the  scene  of  action,  he  at  once  and  unheslta- 
t:.''ig:y  mingled  among  the  gloomy  and  deeply  excited  throng  • 
T^Uon,  c^i  locking  around,  he  was  curprised  to  see  how  much 
ta,d  been  slTccted  in  the  two  short  hours  which,  at  mosi,  had 
c!?-pccd  iincs  the  evacuation  of  the  place.  The  f  res  had  been 
tJifect-iaily  extinguished  on  a  large  number  of  the  more  solidly 
constructed  wigwams,  and  their  log  walls,  though  mostly 
charred  over,  were  yet  left  so  entire  as  to  be  easily  rcade  hab 
itable  by  throwing  across  them  the  temporary  roofing  cf  poles 
and  boughs,  whidi  the  neighboring  swamp  so  abundantly  sup 
plied.  Large  quantities  of  corn,  scoured  in  barrel  shaped 
cuts  cf  hollow  lojrs,  had  been  haubd  out  from  the  protecting 
il/.bns,  under  which  they  had  been  buried  by  the  falling  of 
the  burning  roofs  of  the  store-houses ;  while  nearly  twenty  of 
the  cabins,  which,  scattered  ah.jg  next  the  palisades  on  the 
west  side  of  the  enclosure,  had  stood  without  the  range  of  the 
wind-driven  flames,  were  left  entirely  uninjured. 

Into  these  the  wounded  had  been  brought,  and  placed  under 
the  care  of  the  women  and  medicine  men.  The  slain  whites, 
V/.t,rever  found,  had  been  unceremoniously  pitched  into  the 
inoat — their  own  dead  carefully  collected,  the  f  ner.'  ^?ail, 
steady  described,  uttered  over  them,  and  the  bodies  b'risd 
ic  long  trenches  hastily  excavated  in  the  open  cpicc  at  the 


THE   CHIEFTAIN    NANUNTENOO.  377 

southern  extremity  of  the  island.  And  the  Borviving wamora 
were  now  assembled  in  the  light  of  the  still  burning  piles  on 
the  very  spot  which  had  been  marked  by  I  he  fiercest  of  the 
fight,  to  hold  a  grand  council  Cor  deliberating  on  the  gloomy 
aspect  of  their  affairs,  and  deciding  what  action  should  be 
taken,  immediately  or  remotely,  to  avenge  their  terrible  mis 
fortunes  and  save  the  reiunant  of  their  bleeding  and  shattered 
nation  from  entire  destruction. 

Conspicuous  among  the  dark  throng  of  the  excited  war 
riors  stood,  like  Saul  among  the  people,  with  towering  form 
and  flushing  eye,  the  brave  and  chivalrous  youthful  chieftain, 
Naimntenoo,  or  Canonchet,  as  he  is  more  often  culled  in  his 
tory,  who,  though  he  had  not,  till  now,  broken  from  the  lend 
ing  strings  of  the  aged  king  r,*.d  his  advisers,  whose  timid 
counsels  were,  at  this  porio*!.  paralizing  the  energies  cf  this 
warlike  nation,  yet  he  was  the  acknowledged  heir  apparent  to 
the  throne,  and  had  that  day  led  on  the  willing  warriors  in 
the  terrible  conflict  which  had  just  so  disastrously  terminated. 
Near  him  was  also  the  ambitious  Quit)  n  a  pin,  introduced  to  the 
reader  in  the  early  part  of  our  story  as  the  suitor  of  the  fie^y 
Queen  Wetamoo,  who  now  scoccl  here  by  his  side,  as  his  bride 
and  gniding  genius,  mingling  in  the  counsels  of  state  and  in 
citing  him  to  action  in  avenging  her  wrongs,  and  those  wbioh 
Lad  been  this  day  inflicted  on  his  own  people. 

And  around  these  leading  personages,  were  closely  grouped 
many  other  noted  sachems  and  war  captains  of  the  younger 
and  more  ardent  class,  who  sympathised  with  their  hold  and 
independent  young  chieftain,  in  'ilia  secret  feelings  of  hostil 
ity  towards  the  colonists;  while  a  little  aloof,  with  eyes  bent 
dejectedly  on  the  ground,  stood  the  howeu  forms  of  the  old 
sovereign  chief  and  the  scarcely  iess  aged  counselors  by  whom 
he  kept  himself  surrounded  The  whole  assembly  were  evi 
dently  agitated  with  emotions  which,  with  all  the  wondrous 
self-control  of  their  ?ace,  they  were  not  able  wholly  to  sup- 


378  THE    DOOMED    CHIEF. 

press.  For  though  these  laboring  emotions  might  manifest 
themselves  in  the  old,  only  in  the  silent  working  of  their  fea 
tures,  or  in  their  sullen  looks  of  grief  and  despair;  yet,  in  all 
the  rest,  with  the  withering  scowl  of  hate,  that  was  depicted 
on  their  dark,  frowning  countenances,  the  loud  gnashings  of 
teeth,  the  hot  puffo  of  fiercely  ejected  breath,  and  the  sharp, 
prolonged,  serpent-like  hisses  that  ever  and  anon  were  burst 
ing  forth  from  the  fires  of  their  pent  wrath,  everywhere  gave 
palpable  iodic^UoD  cf  the  terrible  intensity  of  their  feelings, 
now  all  merged  in  the  one  great,  overmastering,  burning  lust 
for  vengeance. 

The  old  chief  and  several  of  his  counselors  had  spoken  ; 
but  their  speeches  had  been  all  of  the  same  subdued  and  ab 
ject  character,  all  recounting  the  disastrous  extent  of  their 
Ioss32,  tremblingly  deprecating  the  power  and  vengeance  of 
the  white  men,  and  suggesting  no  other  hope,  remedy,  or  re 
sort  for  them,  but  an  immediate  suing  for  peace.  And  tha 
eyes  of  the  warriors  were  now  all  anxiously  turned  upon  the 
last  hope  of  their  tribe,  the  gallant  Naountenoo,  to  hear  hia 
response  to  remark*  that  so  illy  accorded  with  the  thoughts 
and  desires  by  which  their  own  fiery  spirits  were  agitated. 

After  a  pause,  and  a  proud  g'.ancs  round  upon  the  eagerly 
expectant  warriors,  he  spoke,  and  thus  ho  spoke  : — 

u  Ninigret,  our  venerable  Sagamore,  counsels  submission 
and.  ne»cp  !  These  are  not  the  words  of  the  brave  Ninigret, 
who,  thirty  years  ago,  drove  back,  the  pale  faces,  then  coming 
to  help  our  old  enemies,  the  traitor  Moheags — drove  them 
back,  like  trembling  deer,  to  hide  themselves  from  his  wrath, 
in  their  sea  shore  villages.*  No,  the  Ninigret  of  to-day  is  old 
and  feeble.  His  courage  is  gone  with  'his  strength.  He  ia 
like  a  little  child  :  rnd  all  his  counsels  are  those  of  a  child, 
and  not  those  of  a  maa  and  a  warrior,  who  would  preserve  the 

*  See  Thatcher's  Indian  Biography  •'or  the  fact  to  which  allusion  is  here 
made. 


T*OLD    COUNSELS,  379 

boing,  and  uphold  the  ancient  glory  of  his  nation.  Submis 
sion  !  Where  would  he  and  his  counselors  now  be  '(  where 
the  women  and  children  not  already  burnt  or  brained,  and 
where  all  of  us,  if  we  had  followed  the  same  puling  counsels 
of  peace  and  submission,  which  he  gave  us  on  the  approach 
of  our  murderous  foes  this  morning  ?  Aye,  where  ?  All  in 
yooder  red  graves,  sleeping  side  by  side  with  our  slain  war 
riors,  whose  blood  I  already  hear  crying  up  to  the  great  Man- 
itou  for  vengeance  !  And  if  Manitou  hears,  shall  his  out 
raged  red  people  be  deaf  to  the  cry?  Brothers,  hear  me — if 
a  thousand  warriors  should  now  take  the  war  path,  follow, 
ambush,  and  fall  on  the  retreating  foe,  tired,  freezing,  and 
Staggering  blindly  along  their  dark  and  snowy  way,  need  one 
be  left  to  carry  home  the  story  of  their  triumphs  to  day  ?  Not 
one  !  Then  would  our  dead  brothers  be  nobly  avenged. 
Warriors,  I  am  ready  to  lead  all  who  are  ready  to  follow." 

Hundreds  of  young  warriors,  with  h3avir:g  bosoms  nnd 
flashing  eyes,  eagerly  rushed  forward  to  offer  themsalves  for 
the  hazardous  enterprise  which  hid  been  thus  artfully  pre 
sented  to  their  gloating  visions  of  blood  and  revenge,  and 
which,  had  it  been  permitted  to  be  carried  out.  would,  in  all 
human  probability,  have  resulted  in  the  entire  destruction  of 
the  already  twice  decimated  colonial  army.  Ths  burning 
Wetamoo  clapped  her  hands  in  savage  delight,  and,  while  ut 
tering  wild  exclamations  in  applause  of  the  braves  vho  were 
thus  evincing  their  patriotism,  impatiently  urged,  and  even 
absolutely  pushed  forward  her  new  husband,  the  less  ardent 
Quinnapin,  who,  thus  instigated,  soon  took  his  place  as  one 
of  the  leaders  in  the  bold  foray  under  consideration.  And 
everything,  for  the  moment,  promised  a  prompt  and  general 
adoption  of  the  plan  suggested  by  the  daring  young  chief 
tain. 

But  here  the  old  chief  and  his  counselors,  at  length  com 
prehending  the  character  of  the  movement,  came  tottering 


£80  THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 


and  warmly  interposed  to  prevent  its  execution.  At 
first,  in  authoritative  tones,  they  wholly  forbid  the  movement 
as  one  of  folly  and  madness,  and  as  one  which  would  result 
in  the  certain  destruction  of  all  who  would  engage  in  it.  But 
perceiving  symptoms  of  open  rebellion  among  the  irritated 
warriors,  the  trembling  old  chief  lowered  his  tone,  and,  in 
tearful  agitation,  earnestly  pleaded  and  begged,  that  the  war 
riors,  now  the  last  hope  and  dependence  of  their  shattered 
tribe,  might  not  be  further  exposed  to  the  terrible  power  of 
the  white  troops,  but  all  be  kept  there  for  the  defence  of  the 
helpless.  And  finding  the  young  chief  and  the  leading  war 
riors  still  hesitating  to  comply  with  his  entreaties,  arid  urged 
on  by  his  overpowering  fears  and  anxieties,  he  at  last  came 
out  with  the  humbling  proposition,  that  if  this,  his  last 
request,  was  complied  with,  he  would  ask  no  other  favor,  but 
at  once  resign  the  sovereign  power  into  the  hands  of  such 
chief  as  the  warriors,  in  their  wisdom,  might  elect  to  re 
ceive  it. 

The  young  chieftain,  who,  in  the  meantime,  had  stood 
silently  noting  this  interference,  with  feelings  of  impatience 
and  vexation,  which  nothing  but  his  habitual  respect  for  the 
ng*'d  ruler  prevented  from  breaking  out  in  expressions  of 
open  contempt  and  defiance,  again  looked  anxiously  round 
upon  the  faces  of  the  assembled  warriors,  when  perceiving  in 
their  looks  indications  of  the  irresolution  and  doubts,  which 
the  words  of  those,  whom  they  had  so  long  been  accustomed 
to  honor  and  obey,  had  obviously  created  in  their  minds,  and 
vhich,  when  indulged  in,  he  well  knew  to  be  generally  any 
thing  but  an  augury  of  success,  he  paused  awhile  with  looks 
of  evident  chagrin  and  disappointment,  and  then  reluctantly 
yieln'ed  his  purpose. 

"  Ninivjret  lias  his  wish,"  he,  after  a  pause,  slowly  began. 
"  Yes,  Nini'jret  has  his  wish,  and  Nanuntenoo  yields,  because 
he  is  to  yield  no  more.  But  warriors,"  he  continued  in 


KANUKTEXOO   ELECTED   CHIEf.  381 

kindling  tones,  as  he  raised  his  princely  form  to  its  full  height, 
and  threw  a  proud  glance  on  the  agitated  throng  around  him — 
"  Warriors,  from  this  sad  and  humbling  day,  we  are  free  to 
act  and  free  to  fight.  Choose  ye  now,  then,  the  man  ye 
would  have  for  your  sovereign  and  war-chief." 

"Nanantenoo  !  none  but  Nupuntenoo  !  Nannntenoo  !  Nanun- 
tenoo  !"  burst  in  one  universal  shout  from  the  eagerly 
acclaiming  multitude;  and  the  young  chieftain  stood  before 
them  a  king  confessed. 

4k  Warriors !"  at  length  resumed  the  chieftain  with  a  stern  dig 
nity  of  manner  alike  suited  to  his  new  position,  and  the  fearful 
responsibilities  he  had  unalterably  resolved  to  assume  in  the 
war — '•  Warriors,  you  have  this  day  suffered  an  outrage  which 
can  be  atoned  for  only  by  the  hearts'  blood  of  our  foes.  The 
lying  pale  faces  say  they  have  made  war  upon  us  because  we 
have  received  the  houseless 'and  starving  Wampanoog  women, 
children,  and  feeble  old  men,  whom  they  have  driven  from 
their  homes.  Is  there  a  warrior,  or  a  man,  or  even  a  squaw  in 
the  whole  Narragnnset  nation,  so  mean  arid  ciaven  but  he 
would  do  this  again  ?" 

A  yell  of  wrath  fiercely  burst  from  the  exasperated  throng 
in  negative  response. 

"  Warriors,"  continued  the  gratified  chieftain,  "  your  answer 
is  the  answer  of  men  who  cannot  be  made  slaves  or  cowards — 
it  is  an  answer  that  will  fall  pleasantly  on  the  ears  of  our  dead 
braves  in  their  spirit-land  homes;  and  it  is  the  answer  the 
Great  Manitou,  who  is  growing  more  and  more  angry  over  our 
wrongs,  would  give  us.  Yield  up  to  be  butchered  these  help 
less  Wamnanoogs  ?  Never  !  while  a  warrior  among  us  is  left  to 
wield  a  tomahawk,  never  !  not  one  !  not  so  much  as  even  the  par 
ing  of  a  Wain  pan  bog's  toe  nail  shall  ever  be  given  up  to  the  white 
wolves!*  But  is  that  all  there  for  us  to  do?  No!  no!  a 

*  The  same  declaration  which  this  noble  but  luckless  young  chief  ninde  to 
Captain  Denniaon  5  when,  being  surprised  aad  made  a  prisoner  a  few  mouths 


3S2  THE   DOOMED    CIIlEF. 


times  no  !  They  have  made  war  upon  us  with  a  baa 
cause.  We  will  now  show  them,  in  turn,  what  we  can  do  in  a 
war  against  them  with  a  good  cause.  They  have  destroyed 
nearly  half  our  warriors;  but  we  will  make  the  other  half 
more  terrible  for  them,  than  the  whole  of  them  before.  They 
have  not  spared  from  death  our  women  and  children.  We 
will  make  the  land  red  with  the  blood  of  theirs.  To-morrow 
we  will  begin  to  fill  our  bullet  bags  and  sharpen  our  knives 
and  tomahawks  for  the  bloody  work;  and  before  seven  suns 
have  passed  over  us,  we  will  be  on  our  way  to  the  camp  of  the 
great  Metacom,  with  the  war  cry  of  vengeance  on  our  lips, 
vengeance  to  the  white  man  now;  and  vengeance  to  the  white 
man  forever  !" 

And  "  Vengeance  to  the  v-li.ite  man  !"  was  eagerly  caught  up  by 
the  maddened  throng  and  echoed  and  re  echoed,  till  the 
whole  forest  rang  with  the  clamor  of  the  terrific  demonstra 
tion,  which,  at  length  subsiding,  left  on  the  startled  ear  the 
shrill  voice  of  the  still  unsatisfied  Wetamoo,  wildly  repeating, 
<l  Vengeance  to  tlie  white  mmi  !  vengeance  now  !  vengeance  forever  !'' 

Thus  ended  the  closing  scene  of  this  day's  awful  drama. 
And  how  far  the  fearful  foreshadowing  of  evil  to  the  colonies 
"which  that  wild  scene  had  so  palpably  exhibited  were  destined 
to  be  realized,  or  iu  other  words,  how  much  this  worse  than 
questionable  onslaught  on  a  tribe  against,  whom  they  had  no 
just  cause  of  war  was  destined  to  avail  the  cause  of  the  colo 
nists,  let  the  record  of  the  dozen  towns  that  were  desolated, 
of  the  fivo  hundred  dwelling-houses  that  were  burned,  and  of 
the  fate  of  hundreds  of  men,  women,  and  children,  who  were 
slain  in  battle  or  massacred  at  their  homes,  during  the  terri 
ble  winter  that  ensued  —  let  the  record  of  these  furnish  the 
answer,  and  at  the  same  time,  the  lasting  commentary  on  the 

later,  he  was  offered  his  life  if  he  would  deliver  up  the  Waiupanoog?,  and 
procure  the  submission  of  hi-  tribe  ;  and  when  rejecting  the  disgraceful  pro- 
.  pocit'.on  with  open  scorn  and  contempt,  he  was  shot  and  quartered  by  hia 
Christian  captors. 


CROCKER  DETERMINES  TO  LEAVE.        883 

whole  of  that  unwashed  transaction.  We  must  leave  it  all  to 
the  sad  and  humiliating  history  of  the  times,  and  return  once 
more  to  the  task  of  unraveling  the  web  of  fate,  which,  in  con 
nection  with  these  public  events,  had  involved  the  leading  per 
sonages  of  our  eventful  story. 

"Oh,  what  an  augury  of  evil  to  the  infatuated  colonists  is 
here  !"  soliloquized  the  white  man,  who  having  stood  at  the 
edge  of  the  crowd  mutely  witnessing  the  scene  we  have  de 
scribed,  now  turned  thoughtfully  away,  and  began  to  retrace 
his  steps  towards  his  charge  in  the  forest — "  Still,  who  can 
blame  them  ?  Who  can  blame  any,  made  of  flesh  and  blood, 
for  resolving  on  such  a  course  under  such  provocations  ?  This 
settles  it  beyond  question  or  recall — a  war  now  upon  the  colo 
nies  by  all  the  united  red  tribes  of  the  north — ay,  and  that 
too,  a  war  of  extermination  !  Yet  why  anticipate  horrors 
which  heaven  in  its  mercy  may  yet  avert  ?  It  is  enough  for 
me,  in  ray  situation,  to  look  to  my  own  safety — guard  ruy  own 
interests.  Aye,  quite  enough;  since  the  forest  DO  longer 
will  be  any  place  for  me.  Let  me  bethink  myself.  Some 
part  of  the  Providence  plantations — Cannonicut  or  Aquidneek 
islands — yes,  one  of  them  must  be  my  next  refuge — at  least 
till  it  is  seen  how  the  approaching  crisis  in  my  affairs  is  to 
turn  ;  and  the  sooner  I  take  myself  away  the  better.  But 
this  young  officer,  he  must  not  be  left  here  to  perish  in  the 
wilderness.  No,  I  could  not  do  that  even  were  he  a  foe, 
much  less  now.  No,  I  must  remain  here  with  him,  nar.se 
him,  and,  if  possible,  save  him,  and,  as  soon  as  he  can  boar  t.« 
be  removed,  take  him  away  with  me  to  some  place  of  safety 
to  him  and  to  me,  if  I  would  further  commune  with  him." 

Thus  anxiously  musing,  and  giving  vent  to  the  thoupj.fcg 
that  were  oppressing  his  mind,  Crocker  slowly  made  his  way 
back  to  his  forest  cabin,  where  his  first  care  was  to  look  to  the 
condition  of  his  wounded  protege.  But  noticing  no  alteration 
in  the  latter,  whom  he  found  still  sleeping  quietly,  he  hauled 


384  THE   DOOMED    CHIEF. 

U'p  a  supply  of  already  prepared  fuel  sufficient  to  last  through 
the  cold  and  stormy  night  before  them,  replenished  with  .solid 
logs  the  low-burning  fire,  and  wrapping  closely  around  him 
the  warm,  ample  robe  of  furs  with  which  he  hud  proxided 
himself  for  the  winter,  laid  carefully  down  by  the  side  of  his 
sleeping  pafient,  and  was  soon  lost  in  slumber.  After  sleeping 
soundly  many  hours,  he  was  awakened  by  the  invasion  of  the 
cold — -the  woodman's  only  night  signal  for  rising  to  prevent  a 
chill;  when,  leaving  his  rustic  couch,  he  first  closely  noted 
the  brands  of  the  decayed  fire  as  his  only  means  of  judging 
the  time  of  the  night,  which  he  thus  ascertained  to  be  con 
siderably  past  midnight.  Satisfying  himself  on  this  point,  he 
piled  on  another  large  quantity  of  substantial  fuel,  and  then 
went  forth  to  examine  the  aspects  of  the  weather,  or  whatever 
might  be  passing  without.  The  storm,  which  had  greatly 
lulled  during  the  time  occupied  by  the  war-council,  of  which 
he  had  been  a  spectator,  in  the  fore  part  of  the  night,  had 
again  set  in  with  redoubled  fury.  The  snow  was  sifting  down 
apace  through  the  interstices  of  the  loaded  and  bending  boughs 
of  the  trees  overhead,  and  the  wind  was  every  where  wailing 
dismally  through  the  muffled  forests  of  the  swamp  levels 
around,  and  sweeping,  with  loud,  solemn  roar,  along  the  more 
distant  pine-clad  hills  bordering  the  swamp  on  the  west.  But 
all  else  had  given  place  to  these  voices  of  nature  and  of  the 
night.  The  tumult  of  battle,  the  roaring  of  flame?-,  and  the 
rriep  ;f  mortal  agony,  which  had  made  hideous  the  past  day, 
were  now  all  over  and  gone;  and  no  human  note  was  to  be 
heard,  save  an  occasional  stifled  groan  from  some  of  the 
v.unded  warriors  who  had  been  brought  to  these  secluded 
cabins,  to  die  here,  as  they  wished,  alone  and  unmolested. 
Artcr  noting  awhile  these  tokens  of  the  storm — made  the  more 
impressive  from  the  place  and  the  hour,  together  with  the 
consciousness  of  the  obstacles  which  such  a  fall  of  snow  must 
interpose  to  any  immediate  execution  of  his  pluus  for  leaving 


DELIRIUM   OF   WILLIS.  885 

the  forest,  he  pensively  returned  to  his  post  in  the  cabin,  and 
seating  himself  before  the  fire,  fell  into  those  dre  my  rellec- 
tions  which  care  and  solitude  are  apt  to  create  in  the  brooding 
mind.  He  had  not  long,  however,  indulged  in  his  reveries, 
before  he  began  to  be  conscious  of  an  alteration  in  the  breath 
ing  of  the  invalid  sleeper,  which  for  some  time  had  been 
growing  quicker  and  more  labored.  Instantly  arousing  him 
self,  he  proceeded  to  the  side  of  the  latter,  where  he  soon 
noted  symptoms  that  filled  him  with  uneasiness  and  anxiety. 
He  run  out,  squeezed  together  a  quantity  of  the  fresh  snow 
into  a  compact  ball,  returned,  and  Assiduously  applied  himself 
to  the  task  of  applying  it  alternately  to  the  fevered  brow  and 
parched  lips.  Bur,  as  grateful  as  this  cooling  process  appeared 
to  be  to  the  half  sleeping  half-waking,  but  nearly  unconscious 
sufferer,  it  did  not  seem  in  the  least  to  affect  the  cause  of  his 
8uff«'iin«rs.  On  the  contrary,  his  symptoms,  as  the  gloomy 
night  wore  away,  continued  to  grow  more  ominous  and  alarm 
ing.  More  and  more  restless  became  every  part  of  his 
sympathizing  system  ;  faster  and  faster  his  hurried  respira 
tions,  and  more  and  more  perturbed  his  uneasy  slumbers, 
which  at  length  were  frequently  broken  by  short,  stifled 
groans  j  while  low,  incoherent  mutterings  of  the  vaguely 
flitting  images  of  the  troubled  brain  seemed  Constantly 
striving  forward  to  lips  vainly  attempting  to  give  them  utter 
ance.  Deeply  touched  by  the  evident  sufferings  of  his  patient, 
the  sympathising  stranger,  after  doing  a-11  he  could  to  alleviate 
them — but  all  in  vain — despairingly  laid  aside  his  appliances, 
and  bending  over  him  with  looks  of  commingled  commiseration 
and  anxiety,  began  to  listen  to  his  disjointed  murmurings 
with  melancholy  interest;  when  at  length,  in  the  jumble  of 
his  discordant,  half  uttered  thoughts  and  broken  accents,  the 
wonls,  *4  Madian — loved — lost — persecuted  Mndian"  became 
distinctly  articulate.  Hastily  starting  at  the  sounds,  the 
listener  rose  and  began  to  pace  forward  and  backward  along 
25 


386  THE   DOOMED    CHIEF. 

the  narrow  space  which  the  cabin  floor  now  only  afforded,  with 
rapid  steps  and  visible  emotion. 

"  It  is  so,"  he  at  length  said,  pausing  and  looking  down 
sorrowfully  on  the  face  of  the  invalid — "  it  is  so.  The  heart 
is  taking  advantage  of  the  clouded  brain,  to  unburthen  itself 
of  its  most  cherished  secret,  and  the  unconscious  lips  are  but 
doing  its  bidding.  Yes,  it  is  as  I  conjectured.  And  now  to 
see  him  lying  here  thus  ! — to  see  him  here  in  this  snow  hedged 
wilderness,  with  his  life  hanging  but  by  a  thread,  with  no 
possibility  of  any  other  than  my  poor  surgery  to  save  hint  !  I 
would  that  I  could  have  been  spared  this  painful  lot — ay, 
painful  to  witness  and  bear  now,  but  to  prove  more  painful,  I 
fear,  in  the  associations  of  the  future.  But  how  singular  this 
happening  !  How  singular  the  chance  that  brought  me,  in  my 
tardy  retreat  from  witnessing  the  battle,  upon  that  wounded 
Pocasset,  who  could  hail  and  entreat  me  with  his  dying  breath 
to  slay  this  young  officer,  whose  scalp,  doubtless,  at  the  very 
moment  he  received  his  own  death  wound  from  some  other 
quarter,  he  was  aiming  to  take,  to  bear  it  off  as  a  trophy  to 
his  queen,  for  her  thanks  and  reward  for  destroying  one  whom 
he  doubtless  had  discovered  to  have  been  her  most  dangerous 
enemy  !  Strange !  But  may  there  not  be  the  finger  of  Pro 
vidence  in  all  this  ?  And  yet,  if  the  man  is  to  die  here,  to 
what  end  was  the  interposition  ?  Will  he  live,  then,  to  be 
restored  to  his  friends  and  country?  God  grant  it!  And  as 
for  me,  let  me  trust  and  believe  it,  as  one  more  than  willing 
to  become  the  instrument  of  the  merciful  purpose." 

And  from  that  moment,  he  did  trust  and  believe  in  the 
event  he  had  so  earnestly  prayed  for;  and  thenceforward,  and 
by  way  of  becoming,  as  he  desired,  the  favored  instrument  of 
its  fulfillment,  he  patiently  and  assiduously  devoted  himself 
to  the  duties  of  nurse,  watcher  and  physician  to  his  suffering 
patient,  with  the  best  means  of  cure  within  his  reach,  which 
consisted  only  of  the  balsams  of  the  forest  around  him,  for  the 


WILLIS'S  CONTINUED  ILLNESS.  887 

dressing  of  the  wounds,  snow  or  water  for  the  alleviation  of 
the  fever  and  local  inflammation,  and  the  various  simples  in 
vogue  for  sudorifics  and  stimulants,  all  applied  with  the  best 
skill  and  discrimination,  that  his  observations  of  Indian  me 
thods  of  cure,  and  former  experience  among  wounded  men, 
enabled  him  to  exercise.  But  his  faith  in  success  was 
destined  to  be  severely  tested.  Day  after  day,  and  night  after 
night  came  and  went,  with  no  visible  amendment  of  the  suf 
ferer.  The  fever,  in  its  varying  degrees  of  intensity  burned 
steadily  on,  constantly  disturbing  his  slumbers  by  riijiht,  and 
as  constantly  keeping  him  by  day  in  a  state  of  stupor  or  mental 
wandering.  Still  undiscouraged,  however,  by  tbe  unpromis 
ing  aspects  of  the  case,  this  self-constituted  protector  and 
physician  continued  to  persevere  in  his  unremitting  attentions 
to  his  patient,  providing  for  his  comforts,  guarding  him  against 
the  cold,  and  nursing  him  with  all  the  tender  assiduitv  of 
a  father  or  brother,  seeming  to  take  no  thought  of  himself,  or 
to  regard  the  storms  which  were  almost  continually  howling 
through  the  wide-spread  wilderness  around,  no  further  than 
they  might  affect  the  comfort  and  safety  of  the  object  of  his 
unexplained  and  singularly  bestowed  solicitude.  Hut  faith, 
hope,  and  patience,  all  at  length  flag  under  long  continued 
discouragements.  And  Crocker,  finding  that  all  his  care  and 
exertions  availed  nothing,  at  last  began  to  cast  about  him  for 
the  best  means  of  removing  his  patient  to  a  white  settlement, 
believing  the  comforts  of  a  civilized  abode,  and  the  attendance 
of  a  regular  physician,  which  could  there  be  obtained,  would 
more  than  counterbalance  the  risks  of  removal,  in  the  chances 
of  his  recovery.  Accordingly  he  called  to  his  aid  several  of 
the  ingenious  natives,  who,  as  soon  as  they  were  made  to  com 
prehend  the  object,  went  to  work,  and  soon  constructed  a  sort 
of  willow  work  litter  or  ra.her  bed  case,  which  was  confined 
to  light  runners,  so  that  a  soft,  springy  bed  could  be  laid 
within,  and  the  vehicle  could  be  carried  like  a  common  litter 


888  THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

on  the  shoulders  of  men,  or  drawn  like  a  sledge,  as  the  cir 
cumstances  might  require  And  scarcely  had  these  prop  ra 
tions  heen  made,  before  an  event  fortunately  occurred  that 
afforded  unexpected  facilities  for  the  safe  accomplishment  of 
the  projected  removal.  After  nearly  a  fortnight  of  cold 
stormy  weather,  one  of  those  remarkable  thaws,  which  are 
peculiar  only  to  January,  but  for  the  in  variable  occurrence  of 
which  in  that  winter  month,  and  not  in  any  other,  science 
has  yet  failed  to  assign  the  cause,  suddenly  made  its  appear 
ance.  And  nearly  the  whole  body  of  snow,  then  three  fe<  t 
deep  on  the  level,  was,  within  two  days,  converted,  as  if  by 
magic,  into  its  original  element,  leaving  all  the  high  grounds 
as  bare  as  in  summer,  and  all  the  swamps  and  lowlands  more 
or  less  deeply  flooded  with  water.  Nothing  was  now  wanting 
but  one  cold  night  to  make  the  way  all  that  could  be  desired 
for  traveling  in  the  contemplated  direction,  which  led  to  the 
nearest  point  of  the  neighboring  bay,  seven  or  eight  miles 
distant,  and  for  the  most  part  over  a  low  swampy  country. 
Such  a  night  followed  the  second  day  of  the  thaw;  and  the 
next  morning,  the  ice  was  everywhere  found  sufficiently  strong 
for  a  safe  transit  of  the  invalid  and  his  attendants.  As  no 
time  was  to  be  lost,  Crocker  immediately  summoned  the  'our 
native  assistants,  whom  he  had  previously  hired  for  the  pur 
pose  ;  when,  havinir  dispatched  one  of  them  forward  to  a  de 
signated  point  on  the  coast,  to  procure  suitable  boats,  he  with 
the  others  gently  lifted  the  unconscious  officer  into  his  new 
traveling  couch,  carefully  covered  Hm  with  blankets  and  furs, 
and  at  once  set  forth  over  the  almost  continuous  glare  ice 
which  now,  spreading  out  far  and  wide  in  every  direction 
formed  the  smooth  and  beautiful  flooring  of  the  forest.  Under 
the  judicious  arrangements  adopted,  in  accordance  with  which 
one  of  the  assistants  went,  forward  with  a  hatchet  to  lop  away 
all  obstructing  boughs,  whi!e  the  other  two  drew  the  vehicle, 
leaving  their  leader  to  walk  by  its  side,  to  steady,  and  guard 


TRANSPORTED    TO    THE    SETTLEMENTS.  389 

it  from  accidents;  the  party  now  for  many  hours  diligently 
ni.-u.e  their  way  through  the  most  densely  wooded  part  of  tbeir 
route.  They  then  shortly  emerged  into  a  more  open,  marshy 
region,  where  they  encountered  so  few  difficulties,  and  ad 
vanced  at  such  an  increased  pace,  thut  at  the  end  of  six 
hours  from  the  time  of  starting,  they  had  safely  reached  4,heir 
destination  at  the  end  of  their  journey  by  land. 

The  place  at  which  they  had  now  arrived  was  the  mor^t  in 
ward  point  of  the  large,  irregular  cove,  here  making  some 
miles  into  the  interior  from  the  great  western  entrance  of  the 
bay.  Here  they  found  the  Indian  who  had  been  sent  forward 
in  the  morning,  in  charge  of  two  safe  and  capacious  bark 
canoes,  which  he  had  drawn  out  from  a  neighboring  shanty, 
where  the  Narragansets,  it  appeared,  had  deposited  their 
boats  for  the  winter,  and  which  he  had  already  caulked, 
launched,  and  every  way  made  ready  for  immediate  occu 
pancy.  Placing  the  invalid,  litter  and  all,  in  the  largest  ca 
noe,  the  whole  party  at  once  embarked,  Crocker  and  one  of 
his  assistants  taking  charge  of  the  boat  containing  the  invalid, 
and  the  rest  going  forward  in  the  other  to  assist  by  towing, 
and  in  any  other  way  which  circumstances  might  require. 

The  keen  cold  of  the  morning  had  now,  in  the  afternoon, 
given  place  to  a  mild  winter  atmosphere,  and  what  was  still 
more  important  to  a  favorable  issue  of  the  enterprise  in  hand, 
the  day  throughout  had  been  one  of  perfect  calmness.  And 
the  waters  of  the  bay,  the  ice  of  which,  including  even  that 
of  the  cove,  had  been  broken  up  and  dissolved  by  thaw  and 
tide,  were  consequently  almost  entirely  waveless.  Encouraged 
by  these  auspices,  the  hitherto  anxious  and  fearful  master  of 
the  expedition,  with  a  few  cautions  to  the  rowers  to  guard 
against  all  sudden  and  jerking  motions,  confidently  put  forth 
on  this  part  of  the  voyage.  And  so  great  was  the  speed  with 
which  these  light,  feathery  crafts  were  made  to  skim  the  sur 
face,  under  the  elastic,  steadily  applied  oars  of  the  strong* 


390  THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

armed  rowers,  that  one  half  hour  sufficed  to  take  them  out 
into  the  open  waters  of  tjie  bay,  and  another  to  send  them 
across  the  channel  to  the  southern  point  of  Canoncut  Island. 
Here,  closely  rounding  the  point,  they  veered  to  the  north 
east,  and  after  skirting  this  island  several  miles,  struck  ob 
liquely  across  the  middle  channel,  and  at  length  made  land  in 
the  vicinity  of  a  solitary  but  neat  looking  farm  house  standing  on 
the  western  shore  of  the  picturesque  Aquidneck,  or  the  well 
known  Rhode  Island,  which  subsequently  <rave  the  name  to 
the  whole  of  the  free  born  and  spirited  little  State,  which 
here  lies  nestling  within  and  around  these  curiously  project 
ing  arms  of  what  may  well  be  termed  its  fostering  ocean. 


WILLIS  AN   INVALID.  891 


CHAPTER    X.X. 

"  There  was  a  voice — a  small,  still  voice, 

Th:it  came,  when  all  the  storms  were  past, 
And  bade  the  suflerer's  heart  rejoice 
In  Lop'd  reward  for  all  at  last." 

FUOUT  TEMPUS  !  was  the  commonplace  exclamation  of 
the  ancient  poets  and  moralists;  and  "Time  flies — time  flies, 
0  how  swiftly  1"  has  been  a  thousand  times  repeated  and 
reiterated,  from  their  d  iy  to  ours,  by  every  moralizing  people; 
as,  with  feelings  of  mingling  interest  and  concern,  they  ha\7e 
noted  how  swiitly  the  winged  months  and  years  glided  irre 
coverably  by  them  in  the  ceaseless  flight  of  time.  With  the 
healthful  and  happy,  and  with  the  eagerly  busy  and  gain 
devoted  classes  in  life,  this  often  quoted  sentiment  is  doubtless 
but  a  tralmcholy  truism.  But  not  so  with  all.  With  the 
sorrowful  and  despondent,  the  days  seem  to  pass  slowly  and 
heavily  away — with  the  weary  in  waiting,  they  appear  to  lag 
and  lin^rtr  as  if  only  to  tantalize  them  with  hopes  deferred; 
while  with  the  poor,  brain  clouded  invalid,  time  makes  no 
prog;  ess. 

Many  we'iry  and  slowly  dragging  weeks  had  elapsed  since 
the  event  which  last  occupied  us,  transpired.  And  the  modi 
fied  atmosphere  and  longer  and  lighter  days,  that  had  succeeded 
the  cold,  short,  and  dark  ones  of  the  previous  months,  told 
that  the  dreary  reign  of  winter  was  now  fast  drawing  to  a  close. 
On  a  comfortable  couch  in  one  of  the  rooms  of  the  solitary 
farm  house  on  the  island  shore,  which  we  left  the  mysterious 
white  wanderer  of  the  woods  and  his  dusky  associates 


892  THE  DOOMED   CHIEF. 

approaching,  '.ay  the  still  helpless  and  unconscious  wounded 
officer.  The  cottage  was  occupied  by  a  widowed  Quakeress, 
with  a  son  and  daughter,  who  were  old  enough  to  reuder 
material  assistance  to  their  meek  and  industrious  mother,  in 
all  the  various  in  and  out-door  duties  required  in  her  secluded 
situation,  and  who,  with  herself,  constituted  the  good  Samari 
tan  little  family  into  whose  care  the  invalid  had  fortunately 
fallen.  The  stranger  and  his  Indian  assistants  had  greatly 
surprised  her  by  bringing  a  sick  and  helpless  man  to  her 
door;  and,  at  first,  she  thought  she  could  not  receive  him. 
But  the  former,  by  the  magic  of  some  whispered  token,  had 
so  touched  the  secret  sympathies  of  the  Quakeress,  and  so  well 
backed  his  personal  appeal  to  her  humanity  by  his  assurances 
of  pecuniary  indemnity,  that  she  soon  yielded  her  scruples, 
and  cheerfully  received  the  sufferer  into  her  quiet  domicile; 
when  giving  her  his  instructions  in  regard  to  the  invalid,  and 
bidding  her  to  act  discreetly  in  regard  to  himself,  he  dismissed 
his  Indian  assistants  to  return  in  the  canoes,  and  hurried  off 
himself,  by  land,  in  another  direction.  From  that  day  the 
widow  had  untiringly  devoted  herself  to  the  care  of  the 
patient,  who,  notwithstanding  all  Tier  exertions  and  those  of 
the  physician  called  in  accordance  with  her  instructions,  had 
lain  there,  week  after  week,  without  either  visible  change  or 
amendment.  The  doctor,  however,  in  his  visit  on  the  pre 
vious  night,  had  spoken  much  more  hopefully  of  the  case 
than  he  had  ever  done  before,  believing  he  had  discovered  a 
favorable  crisis  in  the  disease,  which  he  called  a  brain  fever, 
produced  as  much  by  the  excitement  of  the  battle  as  the 
wounds  received  in  it,  and  predicting  with  considerable  confi 
dence,  that  when  the  invalid  next  awoke,  he  would  do  so  with 
partially  or  fully  restored  consciousness.  And  his  unusu.ally 
deep  and  quiet  slumbers,  lonjr  and  easy  respirations,  and  other 
corresponding  symptoms  exhibited  through  the  night,  having 
all  appeared  to  go  iu  comfirmation  of  the  doctor's  hopeful 


THE    CRISIS    PAST.  393 

predictions,  the  encouraged  widow  now>  on  the  morning 
chosen  for  the  opening  of  the  present  chapter, -hud  taken  her 
seat  with  her  knitting  work  in  hand  near  the  couch  of  the 
invalid,  and  with  an  air  of  solicitous  expectation,  sat  patiently 
awai'inir  the  promised  result  of  his  awaking.  She  was  a  mid 
dle  aged  woman,  of  a  rather  slight  but  symmetrical  figure,  and 
very  c  nnely  features,  which  however,  in  spite  of  all  the  natural 
vivacity  of  countenance  that  enlivened  them,  bore  the  impress 
of  many  early  trials  and  sorrows.  She  was  not  to  be  kept 
lonir  in  this  suspense.  For  in  a  short  time  after  she  had  taken 
her  seit,  and  while  thus  employed,  with  an  occasional  wistful 
glance  to  the  face  of  the  sleeping  invalid,  he  fetched  a  long, 
deep  respiration  and  awoke. 

"  Awake  at  last  !"  was  the  first  feeble  exclamation  that  es 
caped  his  lips.  "  This  must  be  real,"  he  continued,  at  musing 
intervals,  to  murmur,  without  looking  up,  or  in  any  way 
showing  himself  aware  of  the  presence  of  another  in  the 
room.  "  Yes  real,  now  ;  but  what  a  dream  ! — if  it  be  all  a 
dream  ;  if  not,  which  the  real,  and  which  the  dream  ?  But 
this  " — he  added,  as  with  a  surprised  air  he  be^an  to  glance  at 
objects  within  the  scope  of  Ins  vision  as  he  lay — >l  this  is  not 
the  place  !  A  finished  room  !  A  white  man's  dwelling?" 

And  now  turning  his  head  slightly,  his  bewildered  and  en 
quiring  gaze  encountered  the  meek  but  gratified  countenance 
of  his  attendant,  who,  readily  anticipating  what  would  natu 
rally  be  the  enquiries  which  would  arise  first  in  his  mind, 
and  fearing  that  he  might  overtax  his  new  found  faculties, 
now  rose,  and  advancing  to  his  bedside,  considerately  inter 
posed  by  s-iying,  with  the  air  of  one  wishing  to  obviate  all  ne- 
ces^ity  of  further  questions, 

"  Yea.  friend,  thou  nrt  indeed  in  a  white  man's,  or  rather 
in  n  white  woman's  house,  on  the  western  side  of  Aquidneck, 
a  few  miles  north  of  Newport." 

*'  But  how  caine  I  here,  and  who  brought  me  to  this  place  ?" 


891  THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

resumed  the  invalid,  after  a  seeming  effort  to  collect  his  con 
fused  faculties. 

"  That,"  replied  the  former — "  that  I  would  have  told  thee 
at  once,  if  I  could  have  done  so  with  any  certainty;  for  I  am 
desirous  to  save  thee,  in  thy  weak  state,  from  worrying  thy 
self  by  further  questionings.  But,  peradventure,  it  may  be 
the  lesser  evil,  now  the  thought  is  evidently  beginning  to  per 
plex  thee,  to  say  that  thou  wa.st  brought  here  by  a  white  stran 
ger  ;md  several  of  the  red  people,  and  placed  under  my  care  as 
a  wounded  prisoner,  whom  his  cnptors  had  for  some  reason  de 
cided  to  convey  to  the  white  settlements." 

"  Yes,"  responded  the  invalid,  after  a  thoughtful  pause — 
"yes,  it  must  be  the  same.  I  clearly  remember  now,  how 
singularly  I  fell  into  this  stranger's  hands,  and  how  much 
surprised  I  was  to  encounter  such  a  man  under  the  circum 
stances,  and  how  puzzled  at  his  words  and  conduct.  There 
is  a  mystery  about  the  whole  affair,  which,  if  I  ever  get  about 
again,  I  shall  feel  an  interest  in  trying  to  unravel.  But  why 
should  he  have  thrown  me  on  you,  a  stranger,  when  1  might 
have  as  easily  been  taken  to  Newport,  where  I  am  known  to 
many?" 

"  I  can't  pretend  to  tell  thee,"  said  the  woman  with  a  man 
ner  intended  to  discourage  further  conversation. 

"  How  long. have  I  been  here  ?"  persisted  the  querist. 

"  About  six  weeks." 

"  So  long !  Why,  you  must  have  had  a  hard  time  in  taking 
care  of  me,  my  good  woman  ;  but  you  shall  be  well  paid  for 
all." 

"  I  have  been  already  paid." 

"  By  whom  ?" 

"  The  stranger  himself.  And  he  has  not  only  paid  me  well, 
but  left  money  with  me  to  pay  the  doctor  we  have  called  to 
attend  thee." 

"  Strange  !  Strange  J     All  strange — dreams  and  all — as  I 


WILLIS'S  FANCIES.  895 

TOT  wandering  fancies  must  have  been,  though  I 
would  like  10  ask,  if  you  have  been  my  only  female  attend 
ant  r 

"  My  daughter  Mary,  a  girl  of  thirteen,  has  frequently 
been  with  thee,"  said  the  Quakeress,  with  a  slightly  sup- 
pressed  and  hesitating  air;  "  but  why  didst  thou  ask  the  ques 
tion  ?" 

"  Because,"  slowly  and  musingly  resumed  the  invalid — "  be 
cause,  among  the  thousand  continually  coming  and  going  fan 
cies  which  I  have  a  dim  consciousness  of  having  haunted  me 
during  my  long,  troubled  sleep,  as  it  appears  to  me  only  to 
have  been,  there  has  been  one  that  seems  so  distinct  and 
abiding,  that  I  find  it  difficult,  and  I  may  say  painful,  to  be 
lieve  wholly  unreal.  It  was  in  the  form,  sometimes  of  an 
an  angel  wah  white  wings,  gracefully  folded,  as  she  stood 
wistfully  watchiag  by  my  bedside,  and  sometimes  simply  of  a 
youthful  female,  but  always  wearing  the  same  sweetly  ex 
pressive  face — always  tenderly  ministering  to  my  wants,  or 
looking  down  upon  me  with  the  same  anxious,  and,  at  times, 
tearful  countenance." 

"  It  is  hard  making  ropes  out  of  sand,"  rejoined  the 
Quakeress,  evading  the  subject  matter  of  the  other's  remarks, 
and  affecting  to  be  closely  examining  her  knitting  work,  as  if 
to  hide  the  sly,  roguish  expression  which  was  just  perceptibly 
stealing  over  her  features.  "  Thou  will  be  apt  to  find  it,  me- 
thinks,  rather  a  fruitless  task,  friend,  to  try  to  make  many 
realities  out  of  such  vague  fancies  as  those  which  we  have  all 
been  aware  were  disturbing  thy  bewildered  mind.  Thou 
hadst  best  refrain  now.  It  only  worries  thee.  Quiet  thyself 
as  much  as  possible,  and  excuse  my  absence  a  little  time,  that 
I  may  go  and  prepare  for  thy  taking  such  nourishing  beve 
rage  as  will  now  benefit  thee." 

With  this,  she  quietly  rose,  and,  leaving  her  mystified  pa 
tient  to  his  reflections,  glided  out  of  the  apartment.  la  a 


396  THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

short  time,  however,  she  reappeared,  bearing  a  smal.  tray 
Containing  some  kind  of  smoking  beverage,  which,  turning 
out  and  cooling  m  a  saucer,  she  uently  administered,  bidding 
him  drink  plentifully.  He  did  so;  and  then  falling  back  on 
his  carefully  smoothed  pillow,  and,  seeming  to  dismiss  all  anx 
ieties  from  his  mind,  was  soon  lost  again  in  those  quiet  and 
childlike  slumbers  which  as  surely,  as  they  do  beautifully, 
mark  the  rallying  of  the  physical  powers  in  the  first  hours  of 
convalescence  after  a  long  and  prostrating  fir  of  sickness. 

The  doctor,  a  small,  plain,  sedate  looking  man,  of  few 
words,  and  abrupt,  well  clipt  phrases,  called,  in  the  course  of 
the  morning;  and  passing,  with  a  simple  nod  to  the  family 
then  engaged  in  an  outer  room,  directly  to  the  bed  of  his  pa 
tient,  felt  his  pulse,  noted  all  his  symptoms,  and,  without 
awaking  him,  was  on  the  point  of  leaving  the  house,  when  he 
was  hailed  by  its  mistress — 

*'  Thou  hast  left  no  directions,  doctor." 

"None  needed — fever  gone — brain  quiet — small  wounds 
nearly  well — great  one  in  the  shoulder  making  no  more  trou 
ble — shaVt  call  again — nature  and  nursing  to  do  the  rest — 
to  be  kept  quiet,  fed  moderately,  and  soon  be  up  again  " 

"  Thou  now  wilt  consent  to  write  to  his  friends — wilt 
thou  not  ?" 

"  Not  yet." 

"  But  they  know  not,  peradventure,  where  he  is,  nor  whe 
ther  he  he  dead  or  alive." 

"  Didn't  mean  they  should.  Misapplied  medicine  kills 
some,  misjudging  friendship  more.  Low  patients  and  officious 
friends  should  have  a  double  edged  sword  placed  between 
thorn.  Will  write,  when  he  can  sit  up  half  a  day.  Little 
strength  enoujrh  then  to  contend  with  friends — will  need  half 
as  much  as  wanted  to  meet  his  enemies  in  battle.  The  old 
fellow  who  had  him  brought  to  your  quiet  place,  with  prohi 
bition  of  notice,  knew  something.  Good  morning,  madam," 


THE   DOCTOR   PAID.  307 

"Stay,  doctor — if thou  art  not  to  come  ngain,  thou  shouldst 
be  p;»id  now.  What  is  thy  charge?" 

"You  pay?  Ah  !  Let  me  see.  Ten  visits,  five  shillings 
e.'icli — ten  times  five,  fifty — two  twenties,  one  ten — ay,  two 
pounds  ten.  that  is  it,  madam." 

"  Here,  count  tor  thyself,  doctor,"  snid  the  Quakeress,  who, 
while  the  other  was  reckoning,  had  stepped  to  a  chest,  aud 
now  coining  forward,  held  out  to  him  a  handful  of  coin. 

"Will — guilders!  Dutch  coin — good — know  the  value — 
get  it  right,"  said  the  gratified  doctor,  as  he  went  on  counting 
our,  the  amount,  of  his  pay.  which  he  so  little  expected  to  re 
ceive,  at,  least  for  the  present,  till  he  had  finished  the  ;igree- 
able  task.  <k  There,  all  right;  but  where  did  you  get  this 
rare  coin  V 

"  From  the  stranger.  He  entrusted  it  with  me  for  the  very 
purpose  of  paying  thee,  or  such  other  doctor  as  L  chose  U> 
employ,"  replied  the  other,  after  some  hesitation. 

"  A  stranger  from  the  woods  with  these!  Here's  room  for 
peradventures — inferences — guessing,"  rejoined  the  doctor, 
•with  a  puzzled,  studying  air. 

"  Ay,  but,  thou  wilt  oblige  me  by  doing  thy  guessing  mostly 
to  thyself,  doctor,"  responded  the  Quakeress,  with  a  significant 
look. 

"  Ah  !  T  see — private  concernment — unfortunate  liabilities 
or  something  akin,  maybe — but  no  n  atter — the  old  fallow  is  a 
gentleman — my  respects  to  him,  if  you  ever  see  him  again — 
same  to  you,  madam — good  morning,"  said  the  sententious 
little  man,  nodding  complacently,  and  immediately  de 
parting. 

After  a  day  and  nijrht  passed  mostly  in  peaceful  and 
refreshing  slumbers.  Captain  Willis  awoke  the  next  morning 
so  much  better  and  stronger,  that,  when  he  had  partaken  the 
Hi: In  but  the  most  substantial  break f'a.-t  his  careful  hostess 
dared  give  him,  ho  was  similarly  told  by  her,  the  bridle  she 


398  THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

had  put  on  his  tongue  the  day  before  miirht  now,  perhaps,  if 
he  desired  it,  be  safely  removed  for  a  little  season. 

"The  first  use  to  be  made  of  the  privilege,"  responded  the 
invalid,  in  the  same  spirit,  "  should  be,  I  think,  to  inquire  the 
name  of  the  kind  lady  to  whose  care  and  attention  I  am  evi 
dently  very  deeply  indebted." 

"  Nay,  nay,  friend ;  1  had  done  but  a  common  duty  of 
humanity,  without  the  compensation  I  have  received — much 
less,  now,  could  I  claim  any  special  thanks  from  thee.  But 
tlum  wou'd-t  know  my  name?  It  is  Rachel  Minturn." 

"  A  widow,  I  think  you  intimated,  with  these  two  hopeful 
children  I  have  seen  here?  But  I  would  also  know  something 
about  your  family  or  personal  history,  my  good  lady." 

The  woman,  after  a  pause,  meekly  commenced  her  story, 
which  we  will  call 

THE    TRIALS    OF    THE    PERSECUTED    QUAKERESS. 

"  I  am,"  she  be<rnn — "  T  am,  as  thou  hast  rightly  imagined, 
a  widow,  with  my  two  children — George  Fox  and  Mary  Dyer 
— and  the  small  farm  here  which  their  father  left  us,  for  my 
only  hope  and  dependence.  He  died  about  five  years  ago, 
after  we  had  occupied  here  nearly  twenty,  with  a  disease 
traceable  to  the  early  troubles  which  he  and  I  had  in  common 
exnerienced,  and  which  at  length  drove  us  to  seek  an  asylum 
in  this  peaceful  and  soul,  free  island.  Yea,  it  was  indeed  a 
dark  and  angrv  cloud  that  gathered  over  th  bright  looking 
path  which  he  and  T  were  beginning  to  tread  together.  We 
were  Quakers — that  was  our  crime.  We  were  both  reared  in 
the  same  village  in  the  vicinity  of  Boston,  and  at  rather  an 
early  a<re  were  betrothed  for  a  union  soon  to  be  consummated  ; 
when  soon  after,  some  of  the  earnest  disciples  of  that  man  of 
power  and  of  the  Spirit — George  Fox — who  was  then  moving 
all  England,  either  as  followers  or  pevs  cutors,  came  over  and 
began  to  preach  in  our  neighborhood.  Curiosity  prompted 


THE   QUAKERESS   PERSECUTED.  399 

me  to  attend  one  of  the  meetings  of  this  new  sect,  whi>m  the. 
clergy  were  all  bitterly  denouncing,  and  most  of  the  people 
deriding.  I  went  to  laugh,  but  came  aw.-iy  to  pray. 

"1  was  greatly  troubled  at  what  I  heard,  for  I  could  not 
deny  its  truth,  nor  reconcile  it  with  the  religious  formulas  I 
had  been  taught  to  believe  essential.  I  opened  the  Bible, 
and  was  surprised  to  find  the  same  doctrine  which  the  preacher 
had  enforced,  breathing  through  every  line  and  precept  uttered 
by  Him  who  spake  as  never  man  spake;  and  I  now  could  not 
see  how  it  was  possible  the  simple  doctrines  of  love  and  cha 
rity  could  ever  have  been  twisted  into  the  sanctioning  of  the 
rigid  and  intolerant  requirements  of  the  old  churches  The 
light  seemed  all  at  once  to  burst  upon  my  mind,  like  the  sun 
breaking  through  a  misty  cloud.  The  clogged  spirit  within 
suddenly  responded  to  the  striving  Spirit  from  above.  I  felt 
I  had  been  transformed  into  one  of  the  new  sect.  I  <jave  in 
my  adhesion,  because  G»d  in  my  conscience  commanded  it ; 
and  I  openly  and  boldly  proclaimed  my  belief,  because  I 
neither  dared  nor  wished  to  withhold  it  from  the  world  I 
was  arrested,  taken  before  magistrates,  and  ordered  to  recant. 
But,  instead,  I  was  moved  by  irresistible  impulse  to  exhort 
them  to  recant.  I  was  then  thrown  into  prison  amonjr  felons; 
but,  still  unmoved,  I  went,  to  exhorting  the  prisoners,  the 
jailer,  my  betrothed,  and  all  who  came  to  see  me,  till  all  began 
tc  doubt  and  tremble.  'This  pestilent  creature  must  be  re 
moved,  or  she  will  spread  this  devilish  wild-fire  over  the  whole 
country.'  said  the  rulers;  and  accordingly  I  was  brought  out, 
banished,  on  pain  of  deai.h  for  return  ;  my  tongue — this 
scarred  tongue — punched  through  with  a  hot  iron  ;  my  ear — 
this  maimed  ear — slit  down  and  cropped.  I  was  then  p  aced 
before  a  constable  on  horseback,  flourishing  a  loni:  scourge, 
and,  under  the  sharply  applied  lash  driven  through  the  jeering 
multitude.  Without  being  allowed  to  go  to  my  h"iiie, —  which 
Was  with  a  distant  relative — for  a  change  of  raiment,  1  was 


400  THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

forced  on  to  the  borders  of  the  next  town,  in  a  southerr 
direction.  Here  I  was  delivered  over  to  a  new  constable, 
already  th<-re,  and  waiting  at  the  town  lines  to  receive  me, 
airi,  by  the  blows  of  a  new  and  untired  arm,  greatly  to 
increase  my  sufferings.  But  my  betrothed,  the  faithful 
Nathan  Minturn,  who  had  resolved  to  share  my  fate,  and  had 
accordingly  provided  himself  with  what  money  he  could 
command,  procured  inv  clothes  and  hastily  packed  them  up 
with  his  own,  now,  to  my  great  joy,  s<>on  overtook  us,  'fell  in 
by  my  side,  and,  in  despite  the  curses  of  my  new  driver, 
shielded  me,  and,  as  far  as  he  could,  took  the  cruel  blows 
upon  his  own  head  and  shoulders.  The  gush  of  love  and 
gratitude  that  then  welled  up  from  my  heart,  shook  my  whole 
frame  as  I  sf angered  onward  ;  but  1  could  not  express  il,  save 
by  looks,  and  that  imperfectly,  for  my  parch«  d  mouth  was 
fi  led  by  my  swollen  tongue,  and  the  blinding  blood  from  my 
ear  was  disfiguring  my  whole  features.  But  I  need  not  enl.irge 
on  the  mingled  joys,  sorrows,  and  sufferings  of  that  day's  ter 
rible  journey.  Having  been  thus  scourged  from  town  to  town 
by  a  succession  of  remorseless  officers,  we  arrived,  near  night- 
fill,  at  the  southern  border  of  the  colony;  when,  with  a  pnrt- 
inir  lash  and  a  bitter  anathema,  we  were  told  to  go  to  the  land 
of  heretics  where  we  belonged,  and  never  show  our  faces 
airain,  unless  we  wished  to  swinjr  on  the  callows. 

"  As  soon  as  this  last  rude  official  who  now  wheeled  his  horse 
and  rode  off,  was  out  of  sight,  we  involuntarily  dropped  down, 
in  our  fatigue  and  perplexities,  upon  a  rock  by  the  wayside, 
and,  with  our  heads  on  each  other's  shoulders,  truly,  »s  the 
Scripture  hath  it,  lifted  up  our  voices  and  wept  We  then, 
after  mingling  our  tears  awhile,  and  comforting  each  other  as 
we  best  could,  united  in  a  heartfelt  supplication  to  heaven,  for 
support  and  <ruid»nce  in  our  unprotected,  homeless,  friendless 
coniilion  Aft  r  this,  we  r>se  much  comforted,  ca'med,  and 
trailing,  and  iuistiuctively  bcut  our  sups  towards  Providence, 


KINDNESS    OF    ROGER   WILLIAMS.  401 

then  as  now,  the  city  of  refuge  for  the  oppressed.  Arriving 
t-e.re  by  daylight,  we  presented  ourselves  to.  friend  Roger 
Williams  then  Governor,  and  rejoicing  in  the  new  freedom 
eh  rt<T  of  the  whole  Narraganset  province,  which,  after  so 
much  labor,  he  had  just .obtained  from  England.  He  received 
us  kindly,  ordered  refreshments,  and  then  taking  a  seat  beside 
us,  listened  to  our  story. 

"  '  Poor  martyrs  of  soul  liberty  !'  he  exclaimed,  with  tears 
starting  from  his  eyes,  as  we  finished  our  story.  '  I  welcome 
you  both  to  our  conscience-free  plantations.  But  you  must 
be  assisted.  Let  me  see — there  is  a  tract  of  land  large  enough 
for  several  good  farms,  on  the  west  shore  of  Aquidneck,  that 
have  riot  been  appropriated.  Your  unusual  sufferings  for 
conscience'  sake,  entitle  you  to  the  best  one.  You  shall  have  it.' 

u  Ele  then  hurried  off,  and  in  a  few  minutes  returning  with  a 
freshly  written  deed — yea,  of  this  very  farm,  handed  it  to  us 
for  perusal,  and  keeping.  My  Nathan  read  it  and  hesitated, 
saying  he  could  not  pay  fi»r  so  much  land 

44  4  Pay  r  s.>id  the  good  man,  rebu kingly.  *  Do  you  think 
the  Lord  placed  me  here  with  the  means  and  power,  after  he 
had  so  sorely  tried  me,  for  any  worse  purpose  than  to  give 
free  homes  to  the  persecuted  ?  Talk  no  more  of  pay,  but  <:o 
to  your  granted  home  and  improve  your  talent  in  peace.  But 
children,'  he  added,  after  a  thoughtful  pause,  'you  are  not 
married.  I  am  a  minister — no  formal  bans  are  necessary — it 
can  be  done  before  me.  and  here  on  the  spot;  so  rise,  my 
children,  and  be  joined  in  marriage.' 

44  At  this,  we  both  hesitated.  The  thought  of  such  an  event 
just  then,  being  so  unexpected — so  strange,  and  making  such 
a  crowning  of  that  sad  day's  adventures  !  But  friend  Wil 
liams  thinking  it  would  be  bt  st,  under  the  circumstances,  we 
yielded,  stood  up,  and  were  duly  married.  After  remaining 
in  Providence  a  few  days,  we  came  here  to  our  farm,  built  a 
temporary  house,  and  went  to  cultivating  the  soil.  My  hus- 
46 


402  TIIK    DOOM  KB    CIIIKF. 

band  diliprently  Allowed  his  avocation  that  year  and  the  next, 
with  none  but  brief  absences. 

"  But  on  the  approach  of  the  second  winter,  as  he  had  decided 
to  build  a  better  house  the  next  season,  and  as  he  still  had 
property  in  Massachusetts,  which  might  be  sold  for  enough 
to  aid  him  greatly  in  building,  he  made  a  journey,  with  that 
view,  to  his  old  home.  Not  knowing  the  fact,  which,  to  his 
sorrow,  he  soon  ascertained,  that  a  decree  of  banishment  had, 
at  the  time  of  our  leaving,  been  issued  against  him  also,  he 
had  not  thought  of  meeting  with  any  molestation.  But  al 
though,  being  a  prudent  man,  he  had  never  declared  his  be 
lief  there,  or  done  aught  to  manifest  it,  save  the  part  he  took 
while  coming  off  with  me,  yet  he  was  at  once  arrested  on  his 
arrival  as  a  returned  Quaker,  and,  without  beinjr  allowed  :^ny 
hearing,  thrown  into  prison.  And  here  he  was  kept  in  a  cold 
damp  cell,  through  that  whole  long  and  dreary  winter,  during 
which  he  contracted  an  inflammatory  disease,  from  which  he 
never  fully  recovered.  Early  in  the  spring,  however,  through 
the  exertions  of  friends,  who  made  intercession  for  him  on  tho 
ground  that  he  had  returned  in  ignorance  of  the  decree,  they 
at  last  reluctantly  released  him,  arid,  on  account  of  his  infir 
mities,  graciously  allowed  him  to  depart  without  the  usual 
Scourging  on  the  way. 

"  Such  is  my  poor  story,"  added  the  Quakeress  in  conclu 
sion.  tl  The  people  and  rulers  of  my  native  colony  have 
caused  me  very  many,  and  very  sore  afflictions;  but  I  forgive 
them  for  all;  they  knew  not  what  they  did." 

The  invalid,  who  had  listened  with  deep  interest  and  vnry- 
ing  emotions  to  the  simple  and  touching  recital  of  the  Qua 
keress,  failed  not  to  express,  what,  in  view  of  some  of  his  own 
experiences,  he  the  more  sensibly  felt,  a  warm  sympathy  for 
her  in  her  trials  and  afflictions.  Nor  did  he  hesitate  to  openly 
and  strongly  inveigh  against  the  blinded  bigots  who  had 


WILLIS'S  CONVALESCENCE.  403 

caused  her  trouble.  But  although  the  forbearing  woman  evi 
dently  felt  the  force  of  his  remarks,  yet  she  could  not  be 
brought  to  join  him  in  any  words  of  condemnation,  and  "it 
is  not  for  me  to  judge  them,"  was  her  only  response;  for,  in 
common  with  all  her  remarkable  sect, 

"  She  wnlk'd  by  faith,  and  not  by  sight- 
By  love,  and  not  by  law, — 
The  presence  of  the  wrong  or  right, 
She  rather  felt  than  saw." 

Still  he  had  evidently  by  his  kind  words  and  frank  declara 
tions,  which  she  had  hardly  expected  of  one  from  the  colonies 
"roin  which  she  had  been  driven,  touched  a  chord  in  her  feel 
ings  which  greatly  raised  him  in  her  regard  ;  which  made  him, 
indeed,  henceforth  doubly  a  favorite  in  the  family,  and  caused 
the  days  of  his  convalescence  to  pass  pleasantly  away.  And 
from  that  time,  that  convalescence  became  as  rapid  as  it  was 
thus  made  pleasant.  Within  four  days  from  the  recovery  of 
his  consciousness,  he  was  able  to  leave  his  bed,  and  sat  up  for 
hours  at  a  time — within  a  week,  to  walk  about  the  house  and 
yard,  and,  in  less  than  another,  to  go  abroad  for  short  excur 
sions  along  the  shores  of  the  bay,  or  into  the  woods  with  his 
rifle,  which,  together  with  his  valued  sword,  he  was  gratified 
to  find,  had  been  carefully  preserved  and  brought  along  with 
him  to  that  place. 

Up  to  this  time  he  had  taken  but  little  thought  about  leav 
ing  his  pleasant  quarters.  He  was  growing  restless,  indeed, 
with  his  returning  vigor  of  health  ;  but  it  was  far  less  any 
matter  of  public  than  private  concernment  that  caused  his 
uneasiness.  It  was  the  mysteries  attending  his  late  singular 
capture,  connected,  as  he  now  more  than  ever  felt  them  some 
how  to  be,  with  those  still  enveloping  the  fate  of  his  long 
lost  JMadian,  which  now  chiefly  occupied  his  mind,  and  which 
lie  was  intently  but  vainly  casting  about  him  for  the  means 


404  THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

of  solving.  Independent  of  this  object  of  his  solicitude,  he 
had  formed  no  definite  plans  in  regard  to  his  own  i'urure 
movements  :  for,  smarting,  ae  he  WMS,  under  a  keen  sense  of 
neglect  and  contumely  shown  him  by  the  colonial  authorities, 
as  his  only  reward  for  all  his  services  and  sufferings,  he  felt 
little  inclined  to  trouble  them  any  further  with  his  presence  ; 
and  he  was  beginning  to  make  up  his  mind  to  settle  down 
somewhere  among  the  quiet  people  with  whom  his  last  lot 
seemed  so  strangely  to  have  been  cast.  But  events  were  now  at 
hand  which  were  suddenly  to  rouse  him  from  his  indifference 
and  change  the  whole  current  of  his  thoughts  towards  a  hap 
pier  and  more  important  consummation.  The  Quakeress  had 
the  week  before  despatched  her  son  to  apprise  the  doctor  of 
his  patient's  rapid  recovery  ;  and  she  had  been  for  some  days 
wondering  why  her  communication  had  not  led,  as  she  had 
understood  it  would,  to  visits  from  the  friends  of  the  latter; 
when,  one  evening  after  dark,  as  the  family  were  all  sitting 
within,  chatting  toirether,  they  were  startled  by  a  loud  and 
heavy  rapping  at  the  door. 

"  That  must  be  a  rough  customer,"  said  Willis,  rising, 
"  let  me  go,  Mrs.  Minturn,  and  ascertain  what  the  man  would 
have." 

Accordingly  he  proceeded  to  the  outer  door,  carelessly  threw 
it  open,  and  came  to  a  stand  on  the  threshold  ;  when  he  dis 
covered  the  outlines  of  a  stout,  burly  man  sitting  on  a  horse 
before  him,  but  there  was  not  light  enough  for  any  personal 
recognitions,  and  for  a  moment  there  was  a  dead  pause  on 
both  sides.  The  silence,  however,  was  quickly  broken  by  the 
new  comer,  who,  in  a  doubtful,  grurn,  heavy  tone,  said — 

11  Can  you  inform  me,  friend,  of  the  whereabouts  of  a  cer 
tain  runaway  dead  man,  once  considerable  of  a  creature, 
passing  under  the  name  of  Vane  Willis?" 

"Is  not  this  Captain  Mosely  ?"  hesitatingly  asked  Willis, 


ARRIVAL   OF   MOSELY,  40t> 

Without  replying  to  the  rough,  unceremonious  question.  "It 
,nust  be,  I  tli ink* — ay,  it  c;m  be  no  other." 

"Not  very  well,  1  fancy,"  responded  the  other;  "and  now 
1  hear  your  voice,  I  know  what  I  half  suspected  at  first — that 
I  am  talking  to  the  very  chap  I  am  after — have  found  at  last, 
and  now  see,  thank  Heaven  !  standing  like  a  well  iuan,  square 
ou  his  feet  before  me." 

"  Captain  Mosely,"  rejoined  the  former,  "I  am  as  glad  as 
I  frm  surprised  to  see  you.  Alight,  sir, — alight  and  walk 
in." 

"  Ay,  to  be  sure,  I  will ;  for  I  have  no  notion  of  letting  you 
slip  through  my  fingers  this  time,"  said  Mosely,  dismounting 
and  following  his  gratified  friend  into  the  house. 

"This  is  Captain  Mosely  from  Massachusetts,  Mrs.  Mill- 
turn,"  said  Willis  as  he  ushered  him  into  the  room. 

"  He  is  one  of  thy  friends — is  he  ?"  said  the  Quakeress. 

"  Ay,  and  a  most  valued  one. 

"  He  shall  be  considered  one  of  ours  then  ;  friend  Mosely, 
I  bid  thee  a  kind  welcome  to  my  house  and  such  poor,  fare  as 
it  may  afford.  George  Fox,  take  care  of  friend  Mosely's 
horse  ;  and  thee  Mary  Dyer,  come,  stir  thyself,  and  we  will  try 
to  make  good  our  words  of  welcome  by  preparing  something 
acceptable  in  the  way  of  supper." 

"  Now  I  like  that  !"  exclaimed  the  off  hand  captain,  taken 
aback  by  the  words  and  manner  of  the  Quakeress.  "  It  sounds 
hearty.  I  thought  the  Quakers  never  paid  any  attention  to 
politeness;  but  hang  me,  if  there  an't  more  of  the  quin 
tessence  of  politeness  in  these  few  words  she  has  just  spoken 
here,  than  in  all  the  fine  phrases  I  ever  heard  at  a  Boston 
dinner  table!  Captain  Willis,  I  don't  wonder  at  your  safe 
recovery  in  such  keeping." 

When  these  word-tokens  of  mutual,  amicable,  and  happy 
feeling,  had  been  thus  pleasantly  exchanged,  Willis  and 
Mosely  retired  to  the  private  apartment  of  the  former,  for  the 


406  THE   DOOMED    CHIEF. 

double  purpose  of  more  freedom  of  conversation,  and  of  reliev 
ing  the  females  of  their  restraining  presence  during  the  hos 
pitable  preparations  of  the  kitchen. 

*'  Now,  Captain  Mosely,"  said  Willis,  as  the  two  became 
seated,  "  now  for  the  news  from  the  colonies — the  progress  of 
the  war,  and  all.  Your  corning  has  re-awakened  something  like 
the  old  interest  which  I  used  to  feel,  but  which  I  thought  I 
should  never  feel  again,  in  their  public  affairs  there." 

"News? — Progress  of  the  war?"  exclaimed  Mosely,  with 
a  look  of  surprise.  "  Why,  don't  you  know,  Willis  ?  HavVt 
they  told  you  what  has  been  happening  the  past  winter  ?" 

"No,  how  should  I?  From  the  night  of  that  desperate 
swamp  fight,  which  closed  over  me  in  a  swoon  from  loss  of 
blood  from  wounds,  which  I  was  hardly  aware  I  had  received, 
I  have  known  nothing  distinctly  till  within  the  last  fortnight. 
And  since  then,  I  have  scarcely  felt  interest  enough  in  events 
abroad  to  enquire.  And  if  I  had  enquired,  it  would  not  have 
availed  me  in  this  secluded  family  of  Quakers,  who  never 
enquire  or  talk  about  the  events  of  war.  No  others  hive  I 
seen  to  enquire  of,  except  the  doctor  ;  and  him  I  only  indis 
tinctly  remember,  as  he  discontinued  his  visits  about  the  time 
I  fairly  came  to  myself,  and  so  managed,  as  I  began  to  sus 
pect,  that  I  should  not  immediately  have  any  other  visitors." 

"  Ay,  very  likely — a  queer  old  stick,  that  doctor.  It  was 
he  who  wrote  to  a  friend  of  mine,  giving  us  the  first  news 
wo  nad  of  you,  whom,  as  you  were  not  to  be  found  when  we 
retreated,  we  supposed  to  have  been  killed  and  dragged  off, 
or  taken  prisoner  and  then  killed,  and  in  coming  into  this 
section,  as  I  immediately  did,  I  had  to  go  to  this  doctor 
for  directions  to  the  place  where  you  minht  be  found  " 

44  Ah  !  Then  it  would  seem  he  has  been  keeping  up  a  sort 
of  supervision  over  me,  during  my  convalescence,  and  chose 
his  own  time  when  I  should  come  into  the  world  again.  Well, 
he  may  have  judged  correctly.  At  all  events,  it  has  been  a 


GLOOMY   NEWS.  407 

matter  of  indifference  with  me.     But  to  the  news  you  were 
about  to  tell  me." 

"  The  news,  I  am  sorry  to  tell  you,  Willis,  goes  to  make  up 
a  sad  and  gloomy  tale.  The  events  of  the  war  since  I  saw 
you,  present  an  almost  unvarying  picture  of  blood,  plunder, 
and  conflagration.  Our  wicked  assault  on  the  Narraganset 
village,  and  our  indiscriminate  massacre  there,  as  dear  as  it 
cost  the  Indians,  cost  us  still  dearer.  Every  tribe  in  the 
country  seemed  to  make  common  cause  with  the  survivors,  in 
the  work  of  revenge.  They  were  before  that  time,  simply 
ordinary  enemies,  since  then  they  have  been  infuriated  fiends. 
As  we  slew  unoffending  women  and  children  at  that  battle; 
so  they,  in  turn,  have  spared  neither  age  nor  sex  in  their  sub 
sequent  warfare  upon  us.  The  villages  of  Lancaster,  Medfield, 
Groton,  Warwick,  Marlboro,  Bridgewater,  Sudbury,  and  Sci- 
tuate,  have  been  successively  sacked  and  laid  in  ashes,  and 
large  portions  of  their  inhabitants  made  victims  of  the  bullet 
and  tomahawk  ;  while  the  scattered  settlements  of  nearly  the 
whole  frontier  of  Massachusetts  have  shared  the  same  melan 
choly  fate.  It  has  seemed  as  if  all  hell  had  been  let  loose  upon 
our  devoted  colonies." 

"  But  our  troops — where  have  been  our  troops  in  the  mean 
while  ?"  exclaimed  the  astonished  and  horrified  young  officer. 

"  They  have  been  everywhere — ay,  and  everywhere  on  the 
chase  after  the  enemy.  But  it  has  all  amounted  to  little  or 
nothing.  We  would  hear  of  them  concentrating  in  large 
numbers  to  assault  some  particular  town,  and  we  would  make 
a  forced  march  for  the  place.  But  when  we  arrived,  the  mis 
chief  was  done,  and  the  red  devils  were  off  to  emerge  from 
their  fastnesses,  two  days  after,  perhaps  to  bring  the  same 
doom  on  some  other  equally  unprepared  town  fifty  miles  off  in 
an  opposite  direction.  And  even  when  we  were  lucky  enough 
to  come  across,  and  engage  any  of  their  roving  bands,  they 
have,  I  am  ashamed  to  say,  generally  succeeded,  by  their  am- 


40S  TTIE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

bushes,  trnps,  and  other  devices  of  their  devilish  cunning,  in 
killing  two  of  our  numbers  where  we  killed  one  of  theirs. 
They  are,  however,  giving  us  a  little  respite  just  now,  having 
gone,  it  is  thought,  over  to  Connecticut  river.  But  they  will 
probably  soon  be  back  upon  us  again,  and  in  larger  force  than 
ever.  In  short,  matters  look  rather  squally  for  us,  1  can 
assure  you,  friend  Willis.  We  must  have  you  in  the  field 
again." 

"  I  am  in  no  condition  to  take  the  field  at  present,  Captain 
Mosely  '}  and  besides  that  I  have  resolved  never  to  enter  the 
service  a<rain  without  a  commission.  I  have  already  fought 
and  suffered  enough  for  one  who  is  to  receive  scorn  and  neglect 
as  the  only  reward  for  his  perilous  services.  You  know  the 
part  I  took  in  the  swamp-fight,  and  how  I  was  then  treated." 

"  Ay,  and  I  know  also,  that  but  for  your  masterly  move 
ment  in  gaining  the  island  and  assailing  the  foe  in  the  rear, 
that  victory,  if  victory  it  could  be  called,  had  never  been  won. 
And  I  further  know  your  gallant  achievments,  on  that  terrible 
day,  have  in  no  way  been  noticed  by  our  bigot-blind  superiors. 
The  people,  however,  I  find,  understand  it.  And  your  reward, 
brought  about  by  their  clamors  in  your  behalf,  cannot  be,  I 
think,  far  distant  But  enough  of  this.  T  will  now  hear,  as 
far  as  you  could  know  thorn,  the  circumstances  of  your  mishap 
in  the  battle,  capture,  manner  of  getting  out  of  the  woods  to 
this  place,  and  recovery  The  old  doctor  gave  me  some 
vague  and  mystified  hints  about  it ;  but  I  want  to  hear  it  from 
you." 

Accordingly  Captain  Willis  proceeded  to  relate  all,  with 
which  our  readers  have  been  made  acquainted,  respecting  the 
singular  occurrences  embraced  within  the  scope  of  the  other's 
enquiry  ;  when,  as  the  two.  both  almost  equally  in  the  dark 
respecting  the  mysteries  in  which  the  whole  subject  was  still 
involved,  were  discussing  the  probable  character  of  the 
stranger,  and  the  motives  which  could  have  actuated  him  in 


LETTER  FROM  CROCKER.  409 

his  friendly,  liberal,  but  extraordinary  and  unnrcormtable 
course  and  conduct  towards  an  entire  stranger,  and  before  'bey 
could  bit  upon  any  thing  that  looked  like  even  a  probable  solu 
tion,  iheir  conversation  was  interrupted  by  a  new  and  unex 
pected  arrival. 

"  Friend  Willis,"  said  the  Quakeress,  gently  throwing  open 
the  door,  4k  there  is  a  youngerly  red  man  here,  who  desires  to 
see  thee  ;  but  both  of  thee  had  better  come  out  now,  as  our 
supper  is  nearly  ready." 

Casting  at  each  other  looks  of  inquiry,  slightly  mingled  with 
surprise,  the  officers  at  once  rose,  and,  without  remark  fol 
lowed  their  hostess  into  the  kitchen. 

"  That  is  friend  Willis,"  said  the  Quakeress,  pointing  to  the 
younger  officer,  while  directing  her  words  to  a  young  Indian, 
who  stood  near  the  onterly  entrance,  demurely  looking  down 
upon  the  floor;  but,  who,  thereupon,  with  a  keen  glance  at 
the  person  indicated,  advanced  a  step,  and  held  out  a  letter. 

Captain  Willis,  with  a  look  of  lively  interest  came  forward, 
took  tlie  letter,  at  once  opened  it  and,  after  glancing  over  the 
contents,  and  hesitating  a  moment,  rend  aloud, 

"  As  sorn  as  Captain  Willis  is  able  to  travel,  which  I  trust 
»s  now,  bis  late  captor,  or  prisoner,  or  nurse  in  the  woods, 
would  be  gratified  to  see  him  at  Providence.  Enquire  of 
Governor  Williams  for 

CROCKER.'1 

"There!  by  the  George,  Willis,"  exclaimed  Mosely,  slap 
ping  the  other  on  the  shoulder,  "  in  that  short  and  sweet  epis 
tle,  I  see  the  spot  where  the  light  is  to  come  from  out  of 
that  cloud  of  mist  and  mystery,  we  were  just  bothering 
about." 

"  Then  you  would  advise  me  to  go  there,  w^uld  you  ?" 

"  To  be  sure  I  would — there  is  a  meaning  in  this  queer 
affair." 

'•  When,  and  how  would  you  go,  Mosely  ?" 


410  THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

"  To-morrow,  and  with  me.  I  came  by  way  of  Providence 
— left  my  horse  there — came  down  in  a  little  schooner,  which 
returns  to  morrow  from  Newport,  where  I  landed  and  took 
horse  hither.  You  are  well  enough  for  the  trip,  and  will  be 
in  a  fever  till  you  know  what  is  to  come  out  of  the  business. 
Yes,  go  with  me  to  morrow  ;  I  will  stop  in  that  town  till  you  can 
tell  me  something  of  the  discoveries  you  may  make  ;  for  I'll 
be  whipped  if  I  ain't  getting  to  feel  as  curious  about  it  as  a 
little  girl  over  a  riddle." 

"  I  will  do  it,  Captain  Mosely,"  responded  the  other  cheer 
ily  ;  "  so  we  will  call  it  settled." 

"  But  art  thou  to  leave  us,  then,  to-morrow  morning,  friend 
Willis  T*  asked  the  Quakeress,  with  visible  emotion. 

"  It  would  seem  so,  my  good  lady,"  replied  the  young  offi 
cer,  tenderly. 

*   "  Then  to-morrow  will  be  the  saddest  day  we  have  had  this 
long  time,"  responded  the  Quakeress  with  starting  tears. 

u  Oh,  it  is  not  for  a  final  separation,  I  trust,  my  kindest  of 
friends,"  rejoined  the  other,  feelingly.  "  Oh,  no !  I  can 
never  forget  this  family — no,  never  ;  and  however  the  journey 
contemplated  now,  may  turn  out,  I  shall  often  visit  the  peace 
ful  abode  where  I  have  been  placed  under  so  many  obliga 
tions.  But  I  must  have  a  word  with  the  messenger,"  he 
added,  turning  to  the,  Indian.  u  When  do  you  return  to  Pro 
vidence,  my  red  friend  ?" 

"  Part  way — up,  long  four,  three  mile,  where  left  canoe,  to 
night,  may  be — rest  part  way,  next  suu — morrow  morn 
ing." 

"  Well,  as  you  will  doubtless  get  to  Providence  first,  you 
mny  tell  the  man  who  sent  you  here,  that  I  shall  probably 
reach  there  some  time  to-morrow  afternoon." 

"  Yas.  Me  go,  now,"  said  the  native,  turning  to  de 
part.  - 

"  Nay,  nay,  red  friend,"  interposed  the  kind  Quakeress, 


NO    DISTINCTIONS.  411 

f(  thou  must  not  £0  till  thou  hast,  had  some  food.  Come,  wo 
are  about  to  take  supper,  and,  if  these  gentlemen  here  don't 
object,  we  will  jrive  thee  a  seat  with  us  at  the  table.  The 
Lord,  according  to  our  creed,"  she  added,  addressing  the 
reidily  consenting  officers,  as  they  all  now  seated  themselves 
round  the  well  loaded  board — "  The  Lord  created  all  men 
equal,  whatever  their  race  or  color  ;  and  it  is  not  for  us,  his 
poor  creatures,  to  be  the  first  to  set  up  distinctions." 


412  THE   DOOMED   CIIIE*. 


CHAPTER    XXI. 

"  They  talk  of  short-lived  pleasure — be  it  so— 
Pain  dies  as  quickly  :  stern,  hard-featured  pain 
Expires,  and  lets  her  weary  prisoner  go. 
The  fiercest  agonie?  have  shortest  reign; 
And  afier  dreams  of  horror    comes  ag»in 
The  welcome  morning  with  its  rays  of  peace." 

BRYANT. 

IT  was  spring — auspicious  spring — that  season  which  alike 
gladden*  and  delights  the  doubting  heart,  of  the  Christian 
philosopher  and  the  ruptured  eye  of  nature's  poet.  For,  as 
the  thronging  idealities  which  she  brings  in  her  rejuvenating 
train,  burst  on  his  mental  vision,  the  one  sees  in  every  burst 
ing  hud  and  germ,  springing  into  new  life  from  the  perishing 
seed,  the  cheering  type  of  the  new  life  in  store  for  him,  when 
he  too,  like  the  seed,  shall  be  mingled  in  the  dust.  The  other 
as  he  beholds  nature  gradually  spreading  her  flowery  carpet 
beneath  his  feet,  arid  unfolding  her  leafy  banners  to  the  whis 
pering  breeze  above  his  head,  is  regaled  with  the  purest  em 
blems  of  moral  loveliness,  and  the  most  delicate  forms  of 
beauty,  which  poetic  thought  can  appropriate,  either  to  hoard 
for  its  own  silent  pleasures,  or  elaborate  for  the  gratification 
of  others. 

Near  the  top  of  the  southern  declivity  of  the  fine  eleva 
tion,  around  and  over  which,  now  cluster  the  conspicuous 
edifices  of  Providence,  the  city  of  the  beautiful  early  record, 
and.  with  the  progress  of  a  just  and  comprehensive  liberty, 
of  constantly  brightening  early  memories,  there  stood,  at  the 
period  of  our  story,  a  cosey  little  cottage,  so  far  removed  from 


THE   GIRL   AT    THE    WINDOW.  418 

all  others,  and  so  poorly  provided  with  approaches  as  to  give 
it  the  air  of  solitude  and  intentional  seclusion.  But  any 
drawback  which  might  be  found  in  its  loneliness,  was  amply 
compensated  by  the  unrivaled  prospect  which  its  peculiar 
vsi-uation  afforded.  A  variegated  landscape  of  field,  fuiest,  and 
waters,  lay  stretched  to  an  almost  limitless  extent  before  and 
around  it.  And  these  views,  as  striking  as  the)'  were  at  all 
times,  were  now,  on  the  pleasant  spring  afternoon,  when  we 
would  bring  up  the  spot  to  the  notice  of  the  reader,  especially 
beautiful  and  magnificent.  Reanimating  nature  was  making 
her  great  yearly  toilet,  and  everywhere  rejoicing  in  the  be;mty 
and  fragrance  of  her  vernal  attire.  Far  away  on  the  right, 
dotting  the  country  in  lessening  perspective,  >ay  the  green 
hills  kis>ing  the  skies.  On  the  left,  the  eye  wandered,  with 
fewer  prominent  land-marks  indeed,  but  with  other  objects 
of  scarcely  less  attraction,  over  river,  plain,  and  woodland,  till 
the  vision  melted  away  and  was  lost  in  the  blue  distance  j 
while  in  front,  the  long,  wavy  line  of  the  bright  waters  of 
harbor  and  bay,  now  glittering  in  the  rays  of  the  descending 
sun,  lay  sleeping  in  their  resplendence,  like  young  Beauty 
reposing  in  an  illuminated  cradle. 

In  the  front  room  of  the  secluded  cottage  we  have  just  de 
scribed,  and  close  by  the  side  of  an  open  window,  sat  a  beau 
tiful,  dark-browed  girl,  wistfully  gazing  out  on  the  bright 
scene  before  her.  But  her  eye  wras  not  now  feasting  itself  on 
the  natural  beauties  of  the  landscape.  It  was  fixed  on  a  small 
ve>sel  that  was  seen  heaving  round  a  distant  headland,  and 
slowly  creeping  over  the  undulating  waters  towards  the  quiet 
little  haven  which  lay  embosomed  among  the  surrounding 
hills  and  forests,  almost  at  her  feet.  She  now  rose,  thrust  her 
head  through  the  window,  as  for  a  nearer  and  clearer  view, 
and  scanned  the  approaching  craft  long  and  intently,  when 
she  hastily  withdrew  from  the  window,  and  raking  a  l»nsr, 
relieving  breath,  stood  awhile  musing  and  murmuring,  "It  is 


414  THE   DOOMED    CHIEF. 

the  one  !  Coming  at  last !  coming  at  last !  Oh,  if  fie  knew 
of  this  agitation — this  half-dreading,  yet  intense  longing  to 
meet  him,  how  he  must  despise  me  !  But  thanks  to  woman's 
instinctive  arts  of  reserve  lor  concealing  what  cheapens  her 
in  the  eyes  of  those  she  would  enchain,  and  revealing  enough 
to  ensure  the  permanence  of  the  thrall — thanks  for  these,  he 
will  never  know.  So,  now  for  the  schooling." 

Accordingly,  while  slowly  pacing  the  room,  she  commenced 
the  proposed  process  of  trying  to  reduce  her  rebellious  feelings 
into  subjection  and  calmness,  or  rather  to  school  the  tell  tale 
countenance  into  such  expressions  of  quiet  indifference,  or 
mere  polite  interest,  as  should,  at  least,  decently  conceal  the 
tender  tumult  within.  All  her  resolutions  to  this  end,  how 
ever,  did  not  prevent  her,  at  every  turn  in  her  walk  which 
brought  her  near  the  window,  from  sending  a  quick,  eager 
glance  out  upon  the  water,  to  note  the  inward  progress  of  the 
vessel  which  was  thus  riveting  her  attention.  This  she 
continued  to  do  until  she  had  seen  the  lagging  craft,  that 
seemed  to  her,  in  her  impatience  and  suspense,  to  be  forever 
in  reaching  its  destination,  at  length  driving  up  to  its  wharf, 
the  grating  hawser  thrown  around  the  confining-po*<t,  and  the 
crew  leaping  ashore.  With  cheek  made  eloquent  with  the 
coming  and  going  shades  of  hope  and  disappointment  that 
successively  flitted  over  it,  she  stood  noting,  for  so'ue  time, 
with  unsatisfied  eye,  each  individual  form  of  the  slrp's  com 
pany,  as,  one  after  another,  they  now  made  their  appearance 
on  the  wharf.  At  last,  however,  one  form  came  in  view, 
•which  the  keen  eye  of  love  instinctively  told  her  could  he  no 
other  than  the  original  of  the  picture  she  carried  in  ho»  own 
bosom;  when,  suddenly  letting  down  the  curtain  of  the  win 
dow,  and  removing  the  chair  from  before  it,  she  took  a  ^ook 
from  a  shelf,  an<l  seated  herself  in  a  different  part  of  the 
room.  After  sitting  in  this  position  for  the  next,  and,  to  h«V, 
the  almost  interminable  half  hour — now  abstractedly  turning 


AN    UNEXPECTED   JOT.  415 

over  the  leaves  of  her  book,  now  trying  to  read,  and  now 
shutting  the  volume,  to  open  it  again  and  £0  .through  again 
the  same  empty  performance — the  sound  of  an  approaching 
footstep  without  at  length  reached  her  quickened  senses, 
causing  her  to  start;  and  the  next  moment,  a  gentle  rapping 
on  the  door  brought  her  instantly  to  her  feet.  With  flushing 
cheek  and  fast-heaving  bosom,  she  flew  towards  the  door,  and, 
forgetful  of  all  her  self-training  in  the  emotions  of  the  moment, 
quickly  threw  it  open,  gave  one  earnest  look,  and,  with  both 
arms  extended,  rushed  forward  to  her  greatly  surprised,  but 
still  more  greatly  overjoyed  lover. 

There  was  an  attempt  to  speak,  on  both  sides ;  but  on  both 
sides  it  was  equally  a  failure.  The  starting  tear  and  quivering 
lip  were  the  only  interpreters  of  their  overcharged  feelings, 
and,  hand  in  hand,  they  mutely  passed  into  the  house,  and 
seated  themselves  facing  each  other  in  the  recess  of  the 
window. 

"  Excuse  me,"  said  the  girl,  as  soon  as  the  silent  language 
of  the  emotions  could  be  made  to  yield  to  the  less  eloquent 
utterance  of  the  tongue.  "Excuse  me,  Mr.  Willis,'.'  she 
repeated,  in  low,  broken,  and  tremulous  accents,  as  she  wiped 
away  the  tear-spray  that  had  bedewed  her  fair  cheek  ;  u  I  did 
not  think  to  be  so  childish.  But  to  see  you  alive,  after  I  had, 
in  thought,  buried  you  ;  and  now,  after  such  a  sickness,  to  see 
you  looking  so  unexpectedly  well !  Oh,  Vane,  Vane  !  how 
much  I  have  suffered  in  mind  on  your  account!" 

"  And  /,  too,  dearest  Madian,  have  suffered  both  in  mind 
and  in  body,  it  may  be  said,  on  your  account.  But  I  am 
richly  compensated  for  it  all  in  the  happiness  of  this  moment. 
And  so  much  the  more  joyful  the  meeting,  because,  at  this 
time,  so  unexpected." 

"  Unexpected,  Vane?  Ah  !  I  bethink  me,  now;  the  find 
ing  me  here  might  be  unexpected." 

"  Yes,  finding  you  here  now,  though  I  confess  I  expected 


416  THE    DOOMED    CHIEF. 

to  meet  one  here  who  might,  T  thought,  assist  me  to  find  you 
Hut  where  is  he?  This  is  the  house,  surdy  ;  but  where  is 
Mr.  Crocker,  and  who  is  he,  Madian  ?" 

After  hesitating  an  instant,  the  maiden,  who  had  by  this 
time  regained  her  usual  composure,  looked  up  a  little  archly, 
and  said — 

"  Ves,  this  is  the  house  ;  but  you  are  throwing  upon  me  a 
whole  heap  of  questions  all  at  once  about  other  folks,  when 
we  have  had  scarcely  five  minutes  together  to  talk  about  our 
own  affairs." 

u  Oh,  no,  not  much  of  a  heap — only  a  simple  question  ot 
two;  and  it  was  for  the  very  reason  I  fancied  they  migl  t 
have  some  bearing  on  our  affairs,  that  I  was  prompted  to  ask 
them." 

4i  But  you  will  be  asking  me  for  niy  adventures,  since  we 
parted,  next,  won't  you  ?" 

"  Certainly  shall  I,  next,  or  now,  if  you  choose  it,  Median  ; 
for  never  have  I  been  so  utterly  at  fault  about  any  thing  in 
my  life,  as  about  your  movements,  since  your  mysterious  dis 
appearance  from  Plymouth  up  to  the  present  time." 

"  Very  well,  sir,  you  shall  be  immediately  gratified  with 
my  whole  story,  provided  you  will  allow  me  first  to  furnish 
a  sort  of  practical  preface,  which  I  trust  will  not  be  the  least 
agreeable  part  of  the  performance.  So,  here  my  brave  friend, 
who  is  said  to  be  proof  against  ambuscade  and  surprise — here 
take  this  volume,  and  atnuse  yourself  during  the  brief  absence 
I  must  also  be  allowed  in  furtherance  of  the  matter." 

Thus  playfully  remarking,  the  now  joyous  and  animated 
girl,  with  a  sort  of  roguish,  knowing  smile,  lightly  tripped  out 
of  the  apartment,  leaving  her  lover  utterly  at  a  loss  to  compre 
hend  the  meaning  of  her  enigmatical  wo  ds,  or  to  form  a  guess 
of  the  object  of  her  singular  movement.  He  was  not  long 
left,  however,  to  the  indulgence  of  useless  conjectures.  In  a 
few  minutes,  she  reappeared  iu  the  entry,  with  a  countenance 


COLONEL   SOUTHWORTH.  417 

lit  up  with  joy  and  pride,  and  walking  arm  in  arm  with  a  well 
dressed,  dark  complexioned,  elderly,  but  vigorous  looking 
gentleman.  Captain  Willis  instinctively  rose  at  their  appear 
ance,  glanced  keenly  at  the  face  of  the  man,  hesitated  in  evi 
dent  uncertainty  an  instant,  and  then  doubtfully  uttered — 

"  Mr.  Crocker — I  believe." 

"  Ay,  sir,  till  I  get  a  new  christening,"  said  the  other 
smiling  and  throwing  a  significant  glance  at  Madias. 

"  Captain  Willis,"  said  the  maiden,  with  an  impressive  air, 
and  in  tones  made  tremulous  with  emotion — "  Captain  Willis, 
this  is  my  father,  Colonel  Richard  Southworth." 

After  the  young  officer,  who,  it  will  be  needless  to  say,  was 
as  much  delighted  as  astonished  at  this  unexpected  denoue 
ment,  had  received  the  congratulations  on  his  recovery  now 
warmly  proffered  by  Colonel  Southworth,  as  we  should  now 
call  the  mysterious  stranger  heretofore  passing  under  the  name 
of  Crocker,  and,  in  his  own  turn,  expressed  his  deep  gratitude 
for  that  care  and  attention  of  the  other  to  which  he  had  doubt 
less  been  indebted  for  his  life,  and  of  which  the  bestowal  had 
been  to  him  such  a  matter  of  mystery — after  these  gratified 
words  and  thoughts  had  been  exchanged  among  this  happy 
and  interestingly  situated  trio,  Madian  turned  to  her  father 
and  snid — 

"  Father,  I  had  promised  to  give  Captain  Willis  the  partic 
ulars  of  my  secret  flight  from  Plymouth  last  summer,  and  of 
my  subsequent  adventures,  whereof,  unwisely  I  have  since 
feared,  I  kept  him  in  the  dark  ;  but  as  my  adventures  would 
be  mainly  embraced  in  a  relation  of  yours,  which  he  will  also 
wish  to  hear,  I  will,  if  you-  please,  appoint  you  spokesman  for 
us  both." 

After  a  pleasant  preliminary  remark  or  two  about  his  good 
fortune  in  being  no  longer  under  any  necessity  for  further 
concealment,  either  of  his  identity  or  his  thoughts,  he  signified 
27 


418  THE   DOOMED   CHIEF 

his  ready  acceptance  of  the  appointment,  the  results  of  which 
•we  will  place  under  the  heading  of 

THE  ADVENTURES  OF  THE  OUTLAW  AND  HIS  DAUGHTER. 

"  The  crimes,  as  my  daughter  here  knows,  and  as  you,  sir, 
have  doubtless  heard — the  unpardonable  crimes  which  were 
laid  to  my  charge,  and  which  occasioned  my  flight  from  civ 
ilized  society,  to  escape  an  ignominious  death  on  the  block  or 
the  gallows,  consisted  in  my  hearty  service,  under  the  lion- 
hearted  Cromwell,  in  aiding  the  overthrow  of  the  corrupt 
monarchy  of  England;  and  also,  in  fearlessly  asserting,  after 
my  settlement  here  in  the  colonies,  the  claims  of  religious 
liberty  for  all,  and  especially  in  behalf  of  the  persecuted 
Quakers. 

"  The  decree  of  my  banishment  as  a  Quaker,  as  I  was  as 
sumed  to  be  on  account  of  my  open  defence  of  their  rights, 
•which  had  been  rather  timidly  agreed  upon,  and  then  kept  in 
abeyance,  I  cared  little  about;  for  I  had  determined  to  appeal 
to  the  people  and  fight  it  out.  But  when  the  news  came 
that  my  name  had  been  at  last  added  to  the  list  of  those  who, 
from  time  to  time,  had  been  doomed  to  the  scaffold  to  appease 
the  royal  vengeance  of  the  new  Stuart ;  and  with  the  news, 
came  also,  as  I  was  secretly  apprised,  a  warrant  for  my  arrest 
and  transportation,  with  a  large  reward  set  on  my  head  for  so 
doing,  I  lost  no  time  in  escaping  into  the  wilderness,  being 
resolved  that  my  head  should  never  be  made  to  sanction  or  to 
grace  the  triumphs  of  one  who,  not  by  the  grace  of  God,  but 
by  the  weakness  of  the  degenerate  people,  had  reached  the 
throne  of  England. 

"  Having  been  inured  to  fatigue,  and  the  privations  and  dis 
comforts  of  the  worst  kinds  of  out  door  life,  by  years  of  ex 
perience  in  the  hardships  of  the  camp,  I  hesitated  not  to  elect 
the  forest  as  my  refuge.  And  I  accordingly  at  once  made  my 
way  into  the  wooded  highlands  of  the  west,  and  took  up  my 


419 

residence  among  the  Nipmuck  Indians.  Here  T  was  treated, 
as  every  white  man  going  among  the  natives  with  honest  pur 
poses  ever  will  be,  with  uniform  kindness  and  courtesy.  In 
accordance  with  their  just  notions  of  politeness,  they  foibore 
to  pry  into  my  affairs,  or  even  to  ask  my  name.  And  I,  on 
my  part,  while  falling  quietly  into  their  modes  of  life,  minded 
my  own  business,  made  no  explanations,  and  left  them  to 
judge  for  themselves  of  my  character,  and  to  designate  me 
by  their  own  terms,  as  they  soon  did  by  an  appellation  which 
meant  stranger,  but  which  sounded  so  much  like  Crocker,  that 
I  concluded  to  assume  that  name. 

"  I  built  me  a  substantial  cabin  in  a  secluded  location,  and 
lived  very  comfortably,  my  money  bringing  all  the  game  I 
wanted,  which  I  could  not  take  myself,  as  well  as  my  bread- 
stuffs.  And  in  this  manner,  I  continued  to  live  here  many 
months,  without  much  fear  of  molestation  from  any  quarter, 
apprehending  nothing  from  the  Indians,  and  believing  that 
the  officers  of  the  law  must  have,  by  this  time,  given  over 
their  search  for  me.  But  I  was  mistaken.  I  at  length 
learned  from  some  members  of  the  tribe,  who  had  returned  to 
their  old  haunts  from  sojourns  round  Boston  and  Plymouth, 
where,  in  becoming  pra\ing  Indians,  and  constantly  mingling 
with  the  whites,  they  had  picked  up  all  the  news,  that,  the 
authorities  were  not  only  hanging  Quakers,  but  were  still  scour 
ing  the  country  for  the  man  who  had  run  away  from  Plymouth, 
and  was  now  said  to  be  somewhere  in  the  Nipmuck  country. 

"  I  knew  well  enough  what  all  that  portended,  and  at  once 
laid  my  plans  to  remove  to  some  less  exposed  situation.  In 
pursuance  of  these,  I  wrote  a  short  letter  to  my  agent  in  Ply 
mouth,  (you  both  have  reason  to  know  who  that  agent  was,) 
renouncing  civilized  society,  and  intimating  that  I  should 
probably  never  return.  This  missive  I  entrusted  to  a  praying 
Indian,  whom  I  paid  for  carrying  it  to  Plymouth.  In  a 
day  or  two  after  this,  I  feigned  to  be  taken  by  a  fatal  and  in- 


120  THE   DOOMED    CHIEF. 

fectious  disease,  warn  in  g  my  Tnlian  neiiihnors  to  keep  at  a 
lafe  distance,  and  telling  them  th;it  I  was  about  to  crawl  off 
to  die  in  some  cave  in  the  mountains.  I  then  made  up  my 
pack,  and,  having  thus  provided  against  all  chances  of  disco 
very  or  pursuit,  stole  away  that  night  from  my  cabin,  and 
stealthily  made  my  way  out  of  the  territory  of  this  tribe,  in  a 
southerly  direction. 

"  After  wandering  and  temporarily  sojourning  in  the  woods 
a  few  weeks,  I  at  length  reached  the  western  shore  of  Narra- 
ganset  Bay,  purchased  of  an  Indian  a  good  bark  canoe,  rowed 
over  to  the  long,  crescent-shaped  island,  lying  westerly  of  Mon- 
tanp,  skirted  its  northerly  point  round  nearly  midway  the  island, 
landed  on  the  eastern  shore,  and  penetrated  about  half  a  mile  into 
the  woods  to  a  beautiful  little  pond,  cosily  situated  at  the  base  of 
a  sheltering  pine  hill.  Soon  deciding  on  this  sequestered  and 
beautiful  spot  as  an  abode  promising  security  against  molesta 
tion,  and,  if  I  was  threatened  with  it,  the  best  of  facilities  for  es 
caping  by  water,  I  went  leisurely  to  work  with  my  hatchet,  and, 
in  a  week  or  two,  succeeded  in  erecting  a  good,  weather  proof 
cabin. 

"  For  the  first  three  months  I  lived  a  complete  hermit, 
subsisting  on  the  ba**  of  corn,  and  a  package  of  dried  venison 
I  had  bought  of  the  Indians  before  I  left  the  main  land,  to 
gether  with  the  fresh  fish  and  water  fowl  taken  around  the 
island  by  the  fishing  gear  and  fowling  piece  with  which  I  had 
provided  myself  before  leaving  home.  I  was.  as  I  wished  to 
be,  wholly  cut  off  from  the  world  Not  a  single  person,  white 
or  red,  had  to  my  knowledge  approached  the  island  ;  and  the 
only  human  forms  that  greeted  my  senses,  indeed,  during  that 
whole  period,  were  those  whom,  from  my  lofty  lookout  from. 
a  pine  tree  on  the  hill  behind  my  cabin,  I  could  discern  on 
the  decks  of  the  distant  coasters,  lazily  pursuing  their  way  to 
or  from  some  of  the  ports  above. 

"About  this  time,  however,  needing  some   necessaries,  I 


BEFRIENDED  BY  METACOM.  421 

concluded  to  go  over  to  the  main  land  and  visit  the  Wampa- 
noogs  :it  Montaup,  feeling  the  less  hesitation  in  so  doing, 
because  I  knew  there  was  hut  very  little  intercourse  between 
this  tribe  and  the  colonists,  on  account  of  the  mutaal  growing 
jealousies  which  even  then  had  made  considerable  progress 
towards  the  disastrous  and  unnecessary  war  now  pending.  I 
mnde  the  excursion,  and  the  result  was  a  reception  which  soon 
led  to  established  relations  of  mutual  confidence,  and  the  most 
friendly  intercourse  with  them  all.  And  Metacom,  who  had 
then  just  succeeded  to  the  throne,  especially  became  my  friend, 
my  protector,  and  finally  my  confidant,  having  given  me  not 
only  the  red  man's  faith,  but  the  faith  of  one  of  the  most 
high-minded  men  I  ever  knew;  and  it  was  a  faith  which  was 
never  withdrawn  or  broken. 

"  Thus  securely  located  in  my  pleasant  island  retreat,  and 
thus  befriended  by  this  powerful  chief  and  his  willing  subjects, 
I  continued  to  live  on,  year  after  year,  with  a  good  degree  of 
contentment  arid  safety,  but  with  little  to  vary  the  monotony 
of  my  half-savage  life.  After  my  fears  of  betrayal  and  pur 
suit,  however,  had  measurably  subsided,  I  ventured  to  make 
excursions,  in  disguise,  to  several  of  the  nearer  white  settle 
ments,  where  T  had  several  former  acquaintances,  whose 
trustworthiness  I  had  tested,  and  whose  sympathy  I  felt  sure 
would  be,  for  different  reasons,  readily  accorded  me.  These 
were  our  friend  Roger  Williams,  of  this  town  ;  James  Leo 
nard,  of  Taunton  ;  Nathan  Minturn,  the  husband  of  your 
late  hostess;  and  Captain  Alden,  the  owner  and  master  of  a 
ship  usually  plying  between  the  head  of  Buzzard's  Bay  and 
the  southern  colonies  All  these  received  me  as  I  expected, 
ynd  all  in  turn  became  masters  of  my  secret.  Mr.  Williams, 
who  had  then  lived  down  his  former  miserable  persecutions, 
and  become  favorably  known  even  to  the  Government  of 
England,  was  more  than  kind  to  me.  He  warmly  but  dis 
creetly  enlisted  himself  in  my  behalf,  and  volunteered  to  try 


422  THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

to  obtain  a  reversal  of  my  sentence  of  outlawry  at  the  British 
court,  wheie  he  had  made  some  influential  friends  while  there, 
when  he  wus  procuring  his  great  charter.  My  trusty  friend, 
Leonard,  also  rendered  me  good  service  in  procuring  for  me 
money  from  my  banker  in  Amsterdam,  and  faithfully  keeping 
it  to  supply  me  as  my  necessities  required ;  wliile  both  of  the 
others  I  have  named  were  ever  equally  faithful  in  guarding 
my  interest  and  contributing  to  my  peace  and  comfort. 

"  In  this  manner  I  continued  to  reside  there  during  a  period 
of  nearly  seven  years,  during  which  I  pretty  much  lost  all 
interest  in  the  affairs  of  civilized  life,  and  all  desire  of  ever 
ag;iin  returning  to  it,  associated  as  it  was  in  my  mind  with  the 
bitter  experiences  of  the  past.  But  events  were  now  at  hand 
which  were  destined  to  modify  these  feelings  in  some  degree, 
or  at  least  to  lead  to  a  change  of  residence  and  mode  of  life, 
On  one  of  my  secret  visits  to  my  friend  Captain  Alden,  I 
found  him  fitting  out  his  ship  for  South  Carolina,  when  he 
invited  me  to  accompany  him  on  the  voyage,  which  he  said 
could  be  made  without  risk  on  my  part,  as  he  had  the  right 
kind  of  crew,  and  we  should  fall  among  the  right  kind  of 
people  when  we  reached  our  destination.  Soon  concluding  to 
fall  in  with  the  proposal,  I  went  back  to  my  residence,  made 
my  arrangements,  paid  flying  visits  to  all  my  confidential 
friends,  and  returned  just  in  time  to  embark  on  the  proposed 
voya<re.  In  due  time  we  arrived  at  Charlestown,  where  I 
found  myself  among  so  many  defiant  refugees  for  conscience* 
sake — Qunkers,  Huguenots,  and  king-haters — that  I  soon 
felt  myself  quite  at  ease;  and  before  my  vessel  was  ready  to 
return,  I  made  up  my  mind  to  remain  in  that  country,  and 
accordingly  I  proceeded,  with  some  congenial  acquaintances  I 
had  formed  at  the  port,  to  their  residence  at  an  interior 
settlement,  where  I  settled  down,  and  continued  contentedly 
to  reside  for  a  period  of  over  two  years. 

"  But,  by  this  time,  the  short  supply  of  funds  I  had  brought 


WILLIAMS   OPENS   A   CHEERING    PROSPECT.  423 

frith  me  began  to  run  low ;  and  besides,  I  was  beginning  to 
entertain  projects  of  purchasing  landed  estate.  In  view  of 
these  cirrruru stances,  I  at  length  decided  on  taking  a  voyage  to 
the  north ;  ir.d  having  ascertained  when  my  old  friend  Captain 
Alden  was  again  expected  with  his  vessel,  I  repaired  to  the 
port,  luckily  found  him  there  on  the  eve  of  departure,  em 
barked,  and,  nfter  another  pleasant  voyage,  once  more  found 
myself  on  the  shores  of  New  England. 

"  This  was  less  than  a  year  ago  j  and  I,  of  course,  found  the 
3ountry  in  a  state  of  feverish^excitement  and  alarm  from  the 
fast  thickening  portents  of  a  war  between  the  Colonists  and 
the  Indians,  and  especially  that  spirited  and  intelligent  tribe, 
with  whom  I  had  mainly  consorted.  I  fearlessly  went  among 
them,  however,  and  was  kindly  received,  though  I  could 
plainly  perceive  that  they  were  laboring  under  feelings  of 
suppressed  indignation  from  an  increasing  sense  of  their 
wrongs,  and  that  the  presence  of  a  white  man  among  them, 
was  now  attended  with  irritating  associations.  Metacom  had 
lost  none  of  his  friendship  for  me.  He  was  very  kind,  but, 
at  the  same  time,  very  thoughtful,  and  evidently  much  op 
pressed  in  prospect  of  the  fearful  responsibilities  which  he 
clearly  saw  were  about  to  devolve  on  him,  as  the  already 
selected  leader  of  the  red  men  of  the  North  in  the  impending 
contest.  He  spoke  with  much  feeling  of  the  new  wrongs 
and  indignities  that  had  been  heaped  upon  him  and  his  people, 
and  said  it  required  but  one  drop  more  to  make  the  red  man's 
cup  of  bitterness  overflow,  when  he  could  not,  if  he  would, 
restrain  his  warriors  from  hostilities  any  longer.  That  drop 
I  saw  madly  added,  a  short  time  afterwards,  at  Plymouth;  but 
I  will  not  anticipate.  From  Montaup  I  proceeded  by  night 
to  this  town,  and  remained  secreted,  a  few  days,  in  the  house 
of  my  never  to  be  forgotten  friend,  Governor  Williams,  who, 
by  this  time,  had  become,  quite  unexpectedly  to  me,  fully 
warranted  in  opening  to  me  the  cheering  prospect  of  a  favor*- 


424  THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

ble  issue,  at  no  distant  period,  of  his  efforts  at  the  British 
court  for  a  reversal  of  my  outlawry.  He  also  apprised  me, 
for  the  first  time,  of  the  death  of  my  wife;  and  gave  me  some 
vague  intimations,  which  he  said  had  been  made  to  him  as 
vaguely,  that  my  daughter,  then  grown  to  womanhood,  was 
less  pleasantly  situated,  and  less  certain  of  obtaining  her  just 
rights  there  at  Plymouth,  than  she  should  be.  The  opening 
of  this  new  prospect  for  me  personally,  filled  me  with  sensa 
tions  which  I  before  thought  were  dead  within  me.  I  began 
to  wish  to  see  my  family,  anc^know  how  my  affairs  at  Ply 
mouth  had  been  managed  in  my  absence;  and  the  desire  for 
this  was  not  a  little  enhanced  by  the  intimations  I  had  received 
respecting  them.  It  was  perfectly  useless  for  me  to  try  to  sit 
down  contented  under  the  new  train,  that  had  so  unexpectedly 
been  lighted  in  my  bosom.  On  a  succeeding  night,  therefore,  I 
made  an  excursion  to  the  residence  of  ray  friend  Leonard,  who, 
instead  of  relieving  my  anxieties  about  my  home  affairs,  <rave  me 
information  that  still  more  startled  and  amazed  me.  Although 
a  portion  of  the  few  hundred  pounds  that  Leonard  had  drawn 
for  me  from  my  banker  in  Amsterdam,  still  remained  in  his 
hands,  yet,  on  my  departure  for  the  South,  I  gave  him  authority 
to  make  another  draft,  which  he  was  to  hold  in  readiness  for 
me  in  case  I  lived,  and  needed  it  at  the  South — if  not,  to  keep 
it  for  my  family.  He  had  made  the  application,  but  the  bank 
had  refused  to  honor  the  draft,  intimating  that  the  fund  was 
nearly,  or  quite  exhausted  !  What  could  this  mean  ?  IMud- 
gridge  had  no  authority  to  make  but  one  draft,  and  that  of  but 
a  tithe  of  the  fund  ;  who  then  could  have  tirawn  all  the  rest, 
and  how?  My  wife,  or  Deacon  Mudgridge?  But  could 
either  have  drawn  it  without  my  authority?  and  if  they  had, 
what  had  become  of  it?  Here  was  a  mystery  which  was  as  dark 
as  it  was  startling.  At  all,  and  every  hazard,  I  must  immediately 
fathom  it,  and,  at  once,  I  formed  the  bold  design  to  visit  Ply 
mouth  in  disguise,  and  investigate  the  matter  for  myself. 


HELPS   ON   THE   EXCITEMENT.  425 

Accordingly,  in  the  well  studied  disguise  of  the  dress,  com 
plexion,  character,  humble  appearance,  and  broken  English 
of  a  praying  Indian,  with  a  piece  of  an  old  Bible  in  my  hand, 
I  made  the  journey  by  night  to  that  place,  which  I  reached 
on  the  morning  of  the  trial  of  the  Indians.  Having  made 
for  my  retreat  a  temporary  camp,  deep  in  among  the  pine 
thickets  adjoining  the  town,  I  sauntered  out  at  an  early  hour, 
and  mingled,  unnoticed  and  unquestioned,  in  all  the  different 
crowds  and  gathering  of  that  memorable  day — saw  everything — 
heard  everything,  ascertained  much  about  the  situation  of  my 
own  family — much  about  the  extent  of  the  possessions  of 
Deacon  Mudgridge,  and,  on  my  way  back  to  my  retreat,  at 
ten  o'clock  at  night,  looked  into  my  own  house  ;  but  will  leave 
it  to  my  auditors,"  added  the  speaker  with  a  roguish  smile, 
*'  to  jruess  whom  I  probably  saw  there. 

''After  my  return  to  my  camp,  I  sat  down  and  sadly  reflected 
on  the  events  of  the  day.  The  discoveries  I  had  already 
made,  in  connection  with  the  revolting  public  scenes  I  had 
witnessed,  had  given  me  a  great  deal  of  new  light  on  what  I 
now  plainly  perceived  to  be  the  dangerous  character  and  in 
fluence  of  the  man.  who  had,  as  I  now  had  become  satisfied, 
built  hjmself  up  on  my  ruin.  And  coupling  this  with  the  in 
timations  I  had  previously  received,  I  began  to  feel  for  the 
first  time  really  uneasy  for  the  situation  of  my  daughter. 
But  as  I  had  thus  far  learned  nothing  to  warrant  much  alarm 
on  that  score,  the  feeling  soon  gave  way  to  <rloomy  forebod 
ings  of  the  consequences  which  I  saw  must  follow  that  bloody 
day's  work  of  the  infatuated  court  of  Plymouth.  Full  of 
these  fancies,  and  prompted  by  the  displays  of  superstitious 
fears  I  had  that  evening  witnessed  in  the  streets,  I  was  moved 
to  help  on  the  excitement.  And  remembering,  that  when 
I  was  at  the  head  of  Cromwell's  thunderbolt  regiment,  as  he 
was  pleased  to  call  it,  I  had  the  unusual  power  of  voice  to 
make  my  words  of  command,  when  ordering  an  onset,  clearly 


426  THE  DOOMED   CHIEF. 

distinguishable  to  the  distance  of  a  ful1  mile,  I  ascended  a 
pine  tree,  and  from  its  top  held  forth  to  the  distant  multitude 
in  such  utterance  of  denunciation  and  warning  as  came  up 
permost.  This  I  repeated  for  many  subsequent  nights;  for  I 
had  a  design,  from  the  execution  of  which  I  wished  to  keep 
public  attention  diverted.  That  design  was  secretly  to  make 
myself  known  to  my  daughter,  and  thus  obtain,  before  leaving 
the  place,  much  or  all  of  the  information  I  wanted.  In  ac 
cordance  with  this  project,  I  loitered  round  in  sight  of  my 
door,  the  next  day,  till  I  saw  her  in  the  yard,  when  I  respect 
fully  approached  her,  asked  for  a  cup  of  water,  received  it, 
contrived  to  have  her  look  me  full  in  the  face,  and  departed  ; 
trusting  something  to  the  operation  of  that  mysterious  sym 
pathy  often  felt  by  stranger  kindred,  when  unknown  they 
meet,  to  create  in  her  feelings  an  interest  for  me,  which 
should  save  her  from  any  alarm,  and  me  from  a  repulse  at 
another  interview.  I  had  not  miscalculated.  The  next  time 
I  called,  which  was  at  twilight,  several  days  afterwards,  when 
I  found  her  again  in  the  yard  among  her  flowers,  I  at  once 
read  in  her  countenance  the  very  interest  and  spirit  of  curi 
ous  enquiry  that  I  had  desired  to  create  in  her  mind.  But 
perceiving  that  she  was  looking  for  some  reason  for  my  call 
ing,  I  asked  her  to  read  to  me  a  little  from  my  fragment  of  a 
Bible.  She  did  so,  scanning  my  countenance  at  every  pause 
closer  than  ever.  I  then  told  her  if  she  would  be  found  sit 
ting  in  her  open  window  at  dark  the  next  evening  I  would 
call  again  and  tell  her  news.  Upon  this  1  turned,  and  in  my 
natural  voice  and  manner,  said,  as  she  was  moving  towards 
the  house,  '  Good  night,  Madian  j'  when  glancing  back,  I  saw 
her  suddenly  stop  short  in  her  tracks,  and  stand  like  a  post, 
gazing  after  me  in  blank  bewilderment.  The  next  night  I 
called — found  her  at  the  proposed  window,  and,  as  will  be  an 
ticipated,  at  length  made  myself  known,  explained  all,  and 
received  from  her  in  turn,  a  frank  expose  of  all  that  concerned 


GOES  TO  THE  DEACON^  HOUSE.         427 

her  personally,  and  all  she  knew  which  concerned  me  ani  my 
afliiirs.  The  result  was  another  and  more  secret  interview. 
And  the  result  of  that  was  an  arrangement  to  decamp  together, 
the  next  Dtght,  at  midnight,  on  our  way  to  Providence,  where 
she  was  to  remain  in  private,  while  I  retired  to  some  safe  re 
treat,  at  no  great  distance,  to  await  the  issue  of  the  negotia 
tions  going  on  in  my  behalf  in  England. 

*'  In  execution  of  the  safest  plan  I  could  devise  for  effecting 
our  object,  I  .*et  off  that  very  night  for  the  residence  of  my 
friend,  Captain  Alden,  near  the  head  of  Buzzards  Bay, 
reached  there  the  next  morning,  let  him  into  my  plans,  en 
gaged  a  couple  of  his  trusty  sailors  as  oarsmen  and  assistants, 
and  witli  them  traveled  over  the  neck  to  a  fishing  station  on 
the  outer  coast,  chartered  a  good  boat,  and  rowed  up  to  Ply 
mouth  in  the  evening.  Landing  about  eleven  o'clock  at  a 
small,  familiar  cove  making  into  my  own  farm,  and  agreeing 
on  a  signal  call  in  case  I  wanted  help,  I  left  the  sailors  to 
keep  the  boat  till  my  return,  and  proceeded  to  my  house  to 
notify  my  daughter.  But  the  servants,  from  whom  we  had 
agreed  to  keep  the  secret  of  our  flight,  lest  through  them  we 
should  in  some  way  be  traced,  had  but  just  gone  to  bed ;  and 
she  would  not  be  ready  before  the  appointed  hour  of  midnight. 
There  was  yet  a  long  hour  to  wait;  and  feeling  restless,  I 
took  in  my  hand  a  light  package  of  choice  linen,  which  Ma- 
dian  had  already  made  up  to  take  with  us,  and  left  the  house 
with  the  first  intention  of  going  with  it  to  the  boat.  But 
when  I  got  out  I  was  moved  by  a  sudden  inclination  to  patrol 
the  streets.  All  was  silent;  and  there  were  no  lights  to  be 
seen,  save  a  solitary  one  that  was  feebly  glimmering  through 
a  distant  window.  I  followed  it  up,  and  found  it  proceeded 
from  a  ground  floor  bed-room  in  the  costly  dwelling  house  of 
Deacon  Mudgridge.  Perceiving  the  window  which  opened 
into  the  garden  to  be  raised  a  few  inches,  I  took  it  into  my 
head  to  go  round  and  peer  into  it.  A  dimly  burning  night- 


428  THE  DOOMED   CHIEF. 

lamp  sat  on  a  table  near  the  foot  of  the  bed,  wl  ile  in  the 
broad,  seamy,  upturned  face  which  lay  exposed  to  view  on  the 
bed,  I  readily  recognized  the  well  remembered  features  of 
the  veritable  Deacon.  Tie  muscles  of  his  face  were  twitch 
ing  nervously,  and  his  lips  were  moving  with  incoherent  mut- 
terings.  But  so  far  from  blaming  him  for  having  a  con 
science-laden  dream,  it  suddenly  occurred  to  me,  that  if  I 
could  get  into  the  room,  I  might  add  a  counterpart  or  finale 
to  the  probable  burden  of  the  dream  with  wholesome  ef 
fect. 

"  Accordingly,  after  noting  the  best  way  of  ingress  from 
without,  T  proceeded  to  the  outer  door,  and  finding  it  unfast 
ened,  hastily  wrapt  about  me  a  white  sheet  taken  from  my 
package,  stalked  into  the  bed  room,  carefully  setting  all  the 
doors  open  as  I  went,  and  gave  a  loud  rap  on  the  table.  The 
troubled  sleeper  started,  and  with  a  rapid  glance  over  the 
room,  bolted  upright  in  bed,  riveted  his  gaze  on  me,  and  sat 
glaring  me  in  the  face,  his  eyes  opening  wider  and  wider,  his 
looks  growing  wilder  and  wilder,  and  his  hair  gradually  rising 
up  like  bristles  on  his  head,  as,  without  the  power  of  moving 
he  continued  to  gaze  on  in  his  speechless  fright.  After 
gravely  encountering  his  looks  a  moment,  I  silently  and  sol 
emnly  pointed  upward,  then  at  him,  then  downward,  and  then, 
with  my  eyes  still  frowningly  fixed  on  him,  slowly  backed  out 
of  the  apartment. 

"  Having  no  more  time  to  lose,  I  left  the  Deacon  to  his  own 
thoughts  and  conclusions,  and  hastened  back  to  my  house ; 
"when  finding  my  daughter  in  readiness,  we  at  once  proceeded 
to  the  boat,  embarked,  and  were  soon  rapidly  cutting  our  way 
through  the  waveless  waters,  and  in  the  light  of  the  rising 
moon,  which  now  fortunately  combined  to  favor  our  nightly 
voyage.  On  reaching  our  landing,  after  two  or  three  hours' 
snug  rowing,  we  found,  as  had  been  arranged,  a  carriage  in 
waiting  for  us ;  and  immediately  starting  overland,  we  made 


PASSES    TO    THE    NARRAGANSETS.  429 

such   good   speed   that,  bef>re   it   was   fairly    light,  we  were 
safely  ensconced  in  the  hou.-e  of  Captain  Alden.    . 

k'  As  the  captain  was  to  sail  s<»uth  again  in  a  few  days,  and 
was  to  touch  at  Newport,  from  whiuh  he  thought  he  could 
promise  us  a  safe  passage  up  Narraganset  Bay,  we  remained 
there  in  private  till  the  vessel  was  loaded;  when  we  embarked 
wholly  undiscovered,  as  I  then  supposed,  and,  after  a  variety 
of  adventures,  which  it  will  probably  now  be  unnecessary  to 
particularize,  at  length  arrived  at  our  respective  destinations, 
Mad'rin  having  been  escorted  to  Providence,  and  I  passing 
round  by  land  to  the  great  village  of  the  Narragansets." 

"You  have  thrown,"  said  the  young  officer,  who  had  been 
listening  to  the  developments  of  the  other  with  the  most  in 
tense  interest — u  Ay,  sir,  you  have  thrown  a  flood  of  light  on 
a  mind  which,  now  for  almost  a  year,  has  been  jrropinn  in  be 
wildering  and  painful  darkness.  Most  of  the  mysteries  that 
have  been  thus  defying  my  powers  of  fathoming,  stand  ex 
plained  ;  but  not  quite  all.  Let  me  ask  you,  therefore,  what 
day  or  night  was  it  you  passed  from  the  waters  of  Buzzards 
Bay  into  those  of  the  Narraganset  ?" 

"  That  is  a  part  of  our  story  which  I  thought  you  probably 
had  pretty  nearly  ascertained  at  the  time.  At  all  events,  I 
was  fearful  you  or  your  crew  had,  or  would,  I  recollect/'  re 
plied  the  colonel,  smiling.  "  But  as  it  seems  that  you  did 
not  suspect  the  truth,  I  will  inform  you  that  our  voyage  was 
made  on  the  day  of  your  battle  and  lucky  escape  at  Pocasset, 
and  on  the  night  of  the  terrible  thunderstorm  that  fol 
lowed." 

"  And  it  was  then  indeed  Madian  and  you.  who  were  put 
ashore,  when  your  dismasted  vessel  grounded,  and  was  sup 
posed  to  be  in  danger  of  «oing  to  pieces?  I  did  suspect 
something  like  the  truth,  at  least,  so  far  as  she  was  concerned  ; 
for  when  your  vessel  crossed  our  path,  a  flash  of  lightning 


430  THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

distinctly  revealed  to  my  sight  a  female  figure,  standing  on 
her  deck,  which,  from  some  inadvertent  words  dropped  by  the 
skipper,  who  must  have  been  partly  let  into  your  secret  I 
think,  I  hoped,  or  rather  feared,  at  that  terrible  moment, 
might  be  hers,  whose  fate  I  was  so  anxious  to  ascertain. 

Yet,  when  both  our  vessels  got  into  Newport,  the  next  mor 
ning,  your  trusty  friend  Alden,  whom  1  questioned,  so  adroit 
ly  concealed  your  secret,  by  leaving  me  to  infer,  that  it  was  a 
praying  Indian  and  his  squaw  that  I  had  seen  put  ashore,  that 
I  gave  up  my  impressions,  and  forebore  the  pursuit  1  was  in 
tending.  But  how  and  when  did  you  getaway  from  that  wild 
and  desolate  looking  shore  ?" 

"  In  the  canoes  of  those,  who  were  more  friendly  to  us,  than 
they  might  have  been  to  you,  had  they  caught  you.  I  asked 
no  questions,  but  gathered  that  they  followed  you  down  the 
bay,  keeping  themselves  invisible  in  the  shadow  of  the  western 
shore  till  after  dark,  and  then  part  of  them  getting  ahead  of 
you  till  the  storm  struck;  when  they  made  their  way  by  land, 
till  they  saw  you  out  of  reach  in  the  open  sea.  And  having 
seen  us  landed,  they  came  forward,  identified  me,  and  sending 
back  for  their  canoes,  offered  to  take  us  up  the  bay  with  them. 
Accepting  the  offer,  we  embarked  with  them  as  soon  as  the 
water  became  smooth  enough,  and  long  before  morning, 
reached  the  vicinity  of  Montaup,  where  I  relinquished  Aladian 
to  be  rowed  by  one  of  them  up  to  Providence;  while  1  kept 
on  with  the  rest,  to  be  landed  at  the  mouth  of  Tauntou 
river  " 

"  A  bold  step  for  you,  Madian — was  it  not  T'  asked  Willis, 
with  a  look  of  doubt  and  surprise.  "  Did  you  not  hesitate  to 
go  thus  ?" 

"  Why  should  I  ?"  replied  the  maiden,  with  quiet  assurance 
— u  Why  should  I  hesitate  to  trust  myself  with  one  who  had 
proved  himself  my  father's  friend,  and  who,  at  the  same  time, 
was  the  safest  of  boatmen  ?" 


KIDNAPPERS.  431 

"  Who  was  "he,  Madian  ?"  rejoined  the  3ther,  still  wonder 
ing  and  doubting. 

"It  was  KING  PHILIP,  in  the  disguise  of  a  sailor!"  an 
swered  the  girl  in  a  low,  impressive,  and  slightly  rebuking 
tone. 

"  Ay,  and  that  was  not  the  last  good  office  he  did  me," 
warmly  interposed  the  colonel.  "  A  night  or  two  afterwards, 
I  met  him  at  Leonard's,  where  he  rescued  me  from  the  very 
grasp  of  the  kidnappers  or  assassins,  who  there  unexpectedly 
assailed  me." 

''Kidnappers!"  exclaimed  Willis  starting — "kidnappers, 
Colonel  Southworth?  Who  were  they,  and  by  whom  insti 
gated  ?" 

"  I  do  not  know — that  is  with  any  certainty — but  have 
strong  suspicions,"  returned  the  other  thoughtfully. 

"  And  so  have  I.  now,"  rejoined  the  young  officer  leaping 
to  his  feet,  with  the  air  of  one  recalling  something  that  goes 
to  confirm  some  damning  conclusion — "so  have  I  my  suspi 
cions  too;  and  I  will  give  you  my  reasons  for  them." 

And  he  then  related  the  singular  and  questionable  circum 
stances,  under  which  he  overtook  Deacon  Mudgridge  and  his 
band,  while  on  his  way  to  Plymouth  with  the  Dartmouth 
prisoners,  which  event,  by  comparing  notes  with  the  colonel, 
he  found  must  have  occurred  the  next  morning  after  the  as 
sault  at  Leonard's,  and  concluded  by  asking — 

"  And  yet,  how  could  that  old  fox  have  discovered  you  were 
alive,  and  in  the  land  ?" 

"  I  was,  at  first,  at  a  loss  to  know,  myself,"  answered  the 
other  "  But  subsequent  reflection  led  me  to  believe  that, 
after  his  fright  was  over,  his  devil's  cunning  converted  the 
supposed  ghost  into  a  living  reality,  threatening  his  ruin 
unless  traced  out  and  destroyed.  And  that,  thereupon,  he 
had  sent  out  a  band  of  spies,  some  of  whom  must  have  iden 
tified  ine  by  his  description,  when  I  embarked  with  Captain 


432  THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

Al-i^n,  and  perhaps  got  nn  intimation  that  I  was  coming  into 
tin's  region,  which  led  the  whole  of  them,  with  their  master, 
to  come  where  they  accidentally  discovered  and  doused  me  to 
Leonard '«  house.  And  it  is  now  clear  that  I  was  right.  The 
black  hearted  hypocrite  intended  not  only  to  seize  me,  but 
designed,  I  am  satisfied,  to  crown  his  iniquities  by  causing  me 
to  be  assassinated.  But  the  day  of  reckoning  is  now  close  at 
hand." 

"  What  do  you  propose  to  do  ?"  asked  the  former. 

"  Go  to  Plymouth,"  resumed  the  latter— u  go  there  to  mor 
row  or  next  day,  and  openly  arraign  the  miscreant  before  the 
whole  court." 

"  But,  have  you  any  tangible  evidence,  to  warrant  so  bold 
a  step?"  enquired  Willis,  anxiously. 

"  Am  I  riot  rather  too  old  a  soldier  to  go  to  battle,  except 
in  full  armor?"  responded  the  other,  significantly. 

"  Hut  can  you  make  the  journey,  and  then  your  appearance 
in  public,  with  safety  to  your  own  person  ?"  persisted  the 
former. 

"  At  all  events,  I  shall  try  it,"  replied  the  determined  col 
onel,  with  eyes  flashing  with  their  old  fires.  "  But,  you  may 
not  find  me  so  unprepared  for  the  contest  as  you  fear.  There 
has  been  an  arrival  lately  from  the  old  world.  No  ;  I  jro,  as 
you  will  see,  not  wholly  unprepared  ;  but  I  wish  you  to  ac 
company  us." 

"  I  will  do  so,"  responded  the  other,  musing.  "  Ay,  I  will 
go,  and  I  think  I  can  aid  you.  at  lea^t,  in  exposing  that  last, 
and  most  flagitious  of  all  that  man's  wicked  attempts.  I 
know  who  was  the  chief  tool,  as  he  has  long  been  in  other 
matters  in  that  dark  transaction;  and  as  he  is  one  of  those 
rats  most  ready  to  desert  a  sinking  ship,  I  think  I  can  use  him 
for  a  better  purpose  than  punishing  him  with  his  master  ;  but 
I  may  require  time.  I  think  T  had  better  go  on  one  day  in  ad 
vance  of  you,  to  prepare  matters ;  and  I  have  a  trusty  friend 


WILLIAMS   AND   MOSELY.  433 

in  town,  Captain  Mosely,  who  will  accompany  me.  And— 
why,  therej"  he  added,  glancing  through  the  window — lfc  there 
is  the  very  man,  now,  approaching  the  house  in  company  of 
our  friend,  Koger  Williams.'' 

The  personages  thus  announced  now  entered,  and  the  re 
quired  introductions  took  place  ;  when  in  the  conversation  that 
at  once  sprung  up  between  the  mutually  attracted  Colonel 
Southworth  and  Captain  Mosely,  the  unexpected  but  delight 
ful  discovery  was  made  that  they  were  not  wholly  strangers, 
but  had  known  each  other  in  an  interesting  connection  in  the 
old  world  : — Mosely  had  been  a  young  subaltern  in  the  col 
onel's  own  regiment;  was,  i«  fact,  distantly  related  to  his 
family,  and,  like  his  leader,  having,  in  his  hatred  to  kings, 
left  the  country  at  the  Restoration,  had,  after  a  wild  life  with 
the  buccaneers  a  few  years,  settled  down  in  the  colonies.  The 
old  battles  had  of  course  to  be  fought  over  again,  and  it  was 
an  animating  and  joyful  scene  all  round;  but  it  was  not  yet 
quite  ended. 

The  good  and  venerable  Williams  now  rose  and  waved  his. 
hand  for  attention. 

"All  reunions,"  he  said,  in  his  usual  pleasant  and  self-pos 
sessed  manner — u  All  reunions  of  friends  and  kindred  are 
thin<rs  of  joy  ;  and  these,  which  have  been  witnessed  here  to 
day,  are  so  especially  such,  that  I  think  they  n>ay  be  well  sig 
nalized  by  special  tokens.  I,  on  my  part,"  he  added,  drawing 
forth  a  document,  and  with  it  approaching,  and  lightly  rap 
ping  on  the  shoulder  of  the  won<l'-ring  Madian,  <l  have  here 
a  small  one,  of  which  I  bog  this  fair  and  noble  maiden's  ac 
cept;!  nee,  merited  as  it  is  every  way,  and  particularly  so  by 
her  many  weeks'  devoted  attentions  in  nursing  and^niding  to 
restore  our  gallant  friend  Willis  here  to  life  and  usefulness." 

"  Mr.  Williams,"  here  exclaimed  the  surprised  and  blush 
ing  srirl,  with  a  look  of  charming  confusion,  and  with  a  play 
fully  menacing  shake  of  her  beautiful  head;  'kyou,  sir,  it  ap- 
28 


434  THE   DOOMED    CHIEF. 

pears  to  me,  are  exceeding  your  license  of  speech  ;  he  did  not 
know,  and  I  did  propose  he  never  should  know  that." 

"  Ah  !  Why  ?"  rejoined  the  good  old  man,  with  a  kind 
but  slightly  quizzical  air.  "  Why,  ray  fair  friend,  you  are 
delicate  over  much.  But  that  is  ever  the  way  with  the  rid 
dle,  woman — go  through  fire  and  water  at  the  call  of  duty  and 
affection,  but  shrink  from  the  veriest  trifle  squinting  adversely 
to  her  sense  of  female  pride  and  propriety.  Well,  it  is  too 
late  to  retrieve  my  error.  But  Captain  Willis  won't  think 
much  worse  of  either  of  us,  I  fancy,  for  the  disclosure  ?"  he 
added,  glancing  inquiringly  to  the  surprised  and  gratified 
young  officer. 

"  Oh,  no,"  eagerly  responded  the  latter:  "  no,  indeed,  no; 
and  I  thank  you,  sir,  for  the  revelation  of  a  fact  which  I  should 
know,  that,  if  possible,  I  may  repay  the  precious  favor.  And 
I  am  gratified  also  in  the  disclosure,  in  that  it  clears  up  a  mys 
tery  in  which  that  sly  Quakeress  but  the  more  befogged  me. 
But  it  seems  the  eye  of  love  will  be  true,  though  the  brain 
wanders.  Rogue,  Madian,  I  half  mistrusted  you  !" 

"  This,"  resumed  Williams,  presenting  his  paper  anew, 
after  this  by-play  had  passed — "  the  paper  I  have  here  in  hand 
is  a  deed  of  the  handsome  tract  of  land  adjoining  that  of  our 
most  worthy  and  Christian  friend,  the  widow  Minturn,  whom 
most  of  those  present  have  so  much  reason  to  remember.  It 
runs  to  Madian  Southworth.  Will  she  accept  it?" 

"  Why,  sir,"  replied  the  hesitating  maiden — "  why,  I  hardly 
know  what  I  should  say  or  do.  What  should  I,  father?" 

"Oh,  don't  appeal  to  him,"  said  W7illiams,  "but  ask  Cap 
tain  Willis.  What  does  he  say  ?" 

"  I  have  no  answer  to  make,"  responded  Willis,  with  emo 
tion.  "The  father  and  daughter  have  both  conquered — 
doubly  conquered  me.  Their  decision  in  this,  as  well  as  in 
matters  still  more  nearly  concerning  me,  I  should  try  to  make 
xny  own,  even  if  disagreeable." 


THE    BETROTHAL.  485 

"It  will  not  be  disagreeable,  T  trust,"  interposed  Colonel 
Southworth,  now  stepping  forward,  with  moistening  eye. 
"Daughter,  arise;  and  you  also,  Captain  Willis,  if  you  will. 
Here,  sir/'  he  continued,  placing  Madian's  hand  in  that  of 
her  lover.  "  I  was  aware  of  the  relation  in  which  you  two 
have  stood  towards  each  other;  but  here  is  her  lawfully 
bestowed  hand.  As  you  have  been  privately,  without  parental 
sanction,  so  be  you  now,  with  a  parent's  full  sanction,  publicly 
betrothed.  Choose  your  own  time  arid  place  for  the  consum 
mating  forms  of  the  law,  only  let  every  thing  be  open  and 
above  board.  God  bless  you,  my  children  !" 

"  I  was  not,"  remarked  Williams,  after  the  emotions  attend 
ing  the  tender  ceremony  had  subsided — <k  I  was  not,  I  confess, 
wholly  without  selfish  motive  in  my  gift.  I  had  hoped  to 
induce — and  may  I  be  allowed  still  to  hope  that  my  friend, 
Captain  Willis,  whose  views,  I  have  reason  to  believe,  in  some 
respects  coincide  with  my  own,  will  in  reality  be  induced  to 
settle  down  on  my  beautiful  Rhode  Island,  and  help  make  it 
what  I  intend  and  confidently  prophesy  it  shall  become — a 
moral  beacon-fire,  which,  with  the  passing  years,  shall  grow 
brighter  and  broader,  till,  in  its  expanding  light,  the  whole 
American  people  shall  see  that  no  true  civil  freedom  and  no 
true  piety  can  long  flourish  but  in  the  unrestrained  exercise 
of  the  principles  of  religious  liberty." 

After  their  venerated  friend,  Williams,  had  departed,  Col 
onel  Southworth  and  his  congenial  guests  went  into  an  earnest, 
secret  consultation  in  relation  to  the  important  expose  yet 
remaining  to  be  made  at  Plymouth,  the  results  of  all  which 
are  reserved  for  the  next  and  concluding  chapter  of  our 
eventful  story 


436  THE  DOOMED   CHIEF. 


CHAPTER    XXII. 

"  In  his  lair, 
Fix'd  Passion  holds  his  breath,  until  the  hour 

Which  shall  atone  for  years  ;  none  need  despair  ; 
It  came,  it  coineth,  and  will  come, — the  power 

To  punish  or  forgive — in  one  we  shall  be  slower." 

WE  have  at  last,  in  the  progress  of  our  story,  found  our 
way  round  to  the  place  whence  we  started.  We  are  again  in 
Plymouth,  the  town  of  Pilgrim  memories — memories  of  many 
a  stern  virtue,  in  the  times  in  which  we  write,  it  is  true,  but 
memories  also  of 

"That  faith— fanatic  faith,  which,  wedded  fast 
To  some  dear  falsehood,  hugged  it  to  the  last." 

It  was  twilight;  and  the  shades  of  night  were  falling  deeper 
and  deeper  over  the  green  lawn  and  unfolding  shrubberies 
surrounding  the  quiet  and  secluded  mansion  of  the  singularly 
fortuned  Southworths.  The  two  faithful  old  domestics,  Taffy 
and  his  wife  Maggy,  who,  since  the  mysterious  disappearance 
of  their  young  mistress,  had  been  the  unmolested  and  un- 
guided  occupants  and  managers  of  the  establishment,  were 
now  both,  after  the  labors  and  duties  of  the  day,  listlessly 
sauntering  about  in  the  yard,  occasionally  pausing,  the  one  to 
draw  forfh  his  pocket  knife  and  prune  a  scraggy  shrub,  and 
the  other  to  stoop  and  scratch  round  the  roots  of  some  flower- 
plant,  just  peeping  through  the  old  grass,  dry  leaves,  or  other 
rubbish  of  winter.  They  had  been  kept  in  utter  ignorance, 
not  only  of  the  fate  of  the  daughter,  but  also  of  her  astound- 


TAFFY   AND    MAGGY.  437 

ing  discovery  before  she  left  them,  that  the  father  wns  still  in 
th.-  kind  of  the  living;  for  the  latter,  knowing  their  ardent 
temperament,  and  consequent  liability  to  reveal  by  some  un 
guarded  word,  or  leave  to  be  inferred  by  their  actions  a  secret 
which  he  believed  of  great  consequence  to  him  to  remain  un 
known  and  unsuspected,  for  the  present  at  least,  decided  that 
the  only  safe,  policy  to  be  pursued  would  be  to  keep  them 
equally  in  the  dark  with  the  public  at  large. 

"  What  ye  dumping  and  duling  aboot  there,  Taffy  ?"  asked 
the  woman,  after  a  second  enquiring  glance  at  her  husband, 
who  stood  at  a  little  distance  with  his  fingers  thrust  into  his 
long,  sandy  hair,  arid  in  the  attitude  of  one  in  a  deep  study. 

"  1  wull  tell  ye,  Mjig^y,  an  ye  first  tell  me  what  is  that  long 
ward  the  minister  uses  sometimes,  whan  he's  spinning  out  his 
sarmenr,  near  the  eend  on't,  and  says,  from  this,  or  that,  I 
dr;iw  the  following — what  is  the  ward  he  draws,  Magiry?" 

"  Inference?  inference,  it  is,  ye  forgetful  loun,  Taffy." 

"  Ay,  that's  the  ward,  it  is,  aweel,  its  an  inference  I'm 
trying  to  draw,  Maggy  " 

"  Aboot  what  thing, — what  cunning  maggot's  got  into  yer 
head,  now,  Taffy  ?" 

"  It's  aboot  the  why  is  it  that  church  carl,  the  Deacon  up 
town,  don't  come  speering  round  the  wark  an  things  here,  as 
he  used  to.  He's  not  been  here  once  since  our  young  leddy 
went  off  so  strange.  Seeing  she's  gone,  I  expectit  he'd 
come  the  more;  so  it  an't  nothing  about  that,  I  opine, 
Maggy." 

"  Sure  enuf — ye  sets  me  thinking ;  but  what  yer  think  is 
the  why,  Taffy  ?" 

"  It  was  jest  that  vera  why  I  was  trying  to  draw  the 
inference  aboot,  Maggy.  It  may  be  because  he  thinks  his 
game  is  up  ;  an  he  can't  mak  any  more  out  of  her,  or  so 
much  as  he  was  mintin." 

"  More  like  it  he's  found  out  somethin,  Taffy — found  out, 


438  THE   DOOMED    CHIEF. 

maybe,  she  know*  more  aboot  her  rights  than  lie  thought  she 
knew,  the  carl !  an  slie.  don't  know  none  too  much,  I  opine.  The 
kurnel  once  had  heaps  of  money,  an  all  of  it  never  came  into 
this  family  I  know.  Taffy,  I  never  said  much  aboot  it,  but  I 
rather  suspicion  that  man,  if  he  is  high  Dacon." 

"  Aweel,  whether  ye  suspicion  right  or  wrong,  Maggy,  we 
are  glad  of  one  thing,  an't  we  ?  We  are  glad  the  wark  has 
gone  on  jest  as  weel  without  the  Deacon's  speering  an  con- 
trivin,  an  that  we've  been  done  prudent  and  saving  of  our 
young  leddy's  property,  as  we  shuld,  an  she  were  here  horsel- 
Ay,  we're  glad  of  that,  an't  we,  Maggy  ?  for  she  sure  be  some 
where,  an  will  be  back,  soon,  I've  faith,  to  receive  her  own." 

"  Amin  to  all  that,  Taffy;  for  'twud  mak  my  auld  heart 
jump  to  see  her  agin;  an'  if  that  goodly  young  man  culd 
only  come  too  !  But  he  is  dead  in  the  Injun  battle,  they 
say.  How  our  young  leddy  will  gret  an'  grieve  aboot  it,  to 
be  sure  !" 

As  this  confabulation  now  sunk  into  silence,  Magsy  slowly 
retired  into  the  house,  leaving  her  husband  to  continue  at 
will  his  musings  in  the  yard.  She  had  been  seated  in 
her  room  but  a  few  minutes,  however,  before  she  heard  him 
raise  a  strange,  sharp  outcry,  which  seemed  to  be  forced  from 
his  lips  by  some  sudden  surprise  and  alarm.  Starting  in 
stantly  to  her  feet,  she  sprang  for  the  outer  door,  when  she 
encountered  him  rushing  through  the  hall  towards  her,  gib 
bering  in  quick,  suppressed  tones  and  with  startled  looks. 

"  A  wraith  !  a  wraith  !  I've  seen  the  old  kurnel's  wraith 
standing  in  the  yard,  as  sure  as  a  gun,  Maggy  !" 

«  What  '/—fiddle  stick  !— Why,  yer  clean  gone  daft,  Taffy!" 
exclaimed  the  woman,  with  look  and  tone,  in  which  the  emo 
tions  of  surprise,  contempt,  doubt,  and  fear,  were  strangely 
mingled. 

"  I'm  na  dafter  nor  you,  Maggy ;  it's  true  as  the  Book  !"  re- 
gponde4  Taffy,  sufficiently  reassured  by  the  braver  bearing  :£  hia 


A   JOYFUL    MEETING. 

wife  to  ppeak  connectedly — "it  ts  true,  Maggy!  But,  0 
Lordy  I  what  has  we  done  to  bring  him  up  on  us  so?  1'se 
done  nothing,  sure — I  wull  swear  that.  It  must  be  you. — 
What  has  ye  done,  Maggy  ?" 

"  Na  a  single  thing  !"  promptly  retorted  the  woman,  who, 
besides  being  naturally  of  a  firmer  nerve  than  her  husband, 
was  now  nettled  into  daring  by  his  last  intimation — "  na  the 
least  thing,  for  cheatery  or  offence;  an' I  daur  go  an' face 
him  on  it,  this  vera  minute  1"  she  added,  making  resolutely 
towards  the  door. 

Taffy  made  a  confused  attempt  to  catch  and  detain  her,  as 
she  brushed  by  him  ;  but  it  was  in  vain.  The  next  moment, 
she  threw  open  the  door;  when  her  eye  falling  on  the  ques 
tionable  figure  she  was  looking  for,  standing  in  the  path  with 
face  averted  towards  Willis  and  Madian,  then  just  coming  into 
view,  she  stopped  short  on  the  threshold,  and  gazed  out  m 
the  utmost  perplexity  and  astonishment. 

<•'  Gude  guide  us  !  if  the  old  mon  ben't  right !"  she  at  length 
muttered — "  dead  or  alive,  that's  the  kurnel,  sure,  now  !  But 
what's  that  ?"  she  continued,  now  catching  a  view  of  Willis. 
"  Why,  there  is  another  of  them  !  and — and — no — yes — yes, 
thank  God,  it  is  !  and  flesh  and  blude,  too,  every  inch  of  her, 
I  know.  And  here  goes  for  her,  any  way." 

So  saying,  she  bounded  forward  through  the  yard,  and 
giving  a  wide  berth  to  each  of  the  ghosts  as  she  passed  them, 
pounced  upon  the  surprised  Madian,  like  a  hawk  upon  a 
dove,  and  threw  her  arms  around  her  neck  with  a  scream  of 

j°y- 

It  was  many  minutes  before  the  newly  arrived  company 
could  discover  and  comprehend  the  cause  of  the  singular  appear 
ance  and  behavior  of  the  two  old  domestics,  especially  of 
Taffy,  who  stood  timorously  peering  out  from  behind  the 
door  as  mute  as  a  fish  ;  and  it  was  equally  long,  before  the 
latter  could  be  made  to  realize  that  his  old  master  was  still 


4V)  THE   DOOMED    CHIEF. 

aiivc,  and  really  there  in  flesh  and  blood.  But  when  he  at 
Jengfh  did,  he  became  almost  crazy  with  delight,  dancing 
about,  leaping  up,  throwing  his  hat  into  the  air,  and  exclaim 
ing— 

"  Huz — huz — huzza  !  huzza  for  the  kurnel !  in  the  body 
and  bones,  worth  a  dozen  empty  wraiths  !  Huzza  for  our  young 
leddy,  who  outwitted  the  Deil  and  the  Dacon!  Huzza  for 
the  young  Captain,  who  wasn't  killed  by  the  bludy  salva 
ges  !  Huzza  for  everybody,  and  auld  Oliver  Cromwell  be 
sides  !" 

"  Look  out  there/'  laughingly  said  the  Colonel — u  have 
a  care,  Taffy,  or  King  James  will  serve  you  as  he  did 
me." 

"Dang  Kinsr  Jeems  '"  returned  Taffy  snapping  his  fingers 
— "danger?/  kings — I'se  a  rip  publican!  Dang  the  Dacon, 
an*  every  body  that  ever  speeched,  thought,  or  did  any  thing 
against  the  kurnel  or  our  young  leddy;  for  the  dead  be 
corned  to  life,  the  lost  be  found,  an'  I  wull  kill  that  fatted 
calf  the  morrow  mornin' — I  wull !" 

"  Ter — ter — Taffy  !"  interposed  Magpy,  choking  with  emo 
tions  of  the  same  joy,  but  of  the  opposite  manifestation — 
"  Taffy,  yer  acting  like  a  fule;  yer  daft,  ye  auld  child." 

"  Fule  an'  daft,  is  it?"  retorted  Taffy.  "Which  be  the 
biggest  auld  child  fule :  to  be  sniveling  and  skirling  like  a 
great  booby,  as  yer  doin'  there,  or  to  be  caperiu'  an'  laffing 
like  I  do?  Haf  ha!  hu  !  Huzza!" 

"  That's  right;  let  it  off,  now  you  are  at  it,  my  man,"  here 
broke  in  the  grum,  half-laughing,  half  choking  voice  of  Cap 
tain  Mosely,  who,  unnoticed,  had  approached,  and  stood 
witnessing  the  scene,  a  little  aloof.  "  All  right,  sir,  and  no 
blame;  for,  really,  I  don't  see  much  to  choose  in  the  plight 
of  any  of  you,"  he  added,  chuckling,  and  dashing  away  a  tear 
that  had  started  in  his  own  eye  as  he  glanced  round  on  the 
company,  who  all  seemed  to  have  caught  the  infection  of  the 


THE   DEACON    WITH    HIS   DEEDS.  441 

old  domestics.  "  But,  colonel,  you  are  not  so  prudent  a 
commander  as  I  had  counted  After  leaving  your  carriage 
and  sending  it  back,  when  two  mile.*  off,  so  that  you  could  walk 
into  town  in  the  dusk  undiscovered,  this  display  in  the  open 
yard,  where  the  neighbors  will  be  so  likely  to  hear  and 
suspect,  hardly  comports,  does  it?" 

"  True,"  responded  Colonel  Southworth,  seeming  to  recol 
lect  himself — "  true,  Captain  Mosely,  true.  So,  now,  all  handa 
into  the  house;  for  it  is  agreed,  for  certain  reasons,  to  keep 
close  mouths  and  a  close  garrison  to  night,  and  till  the  hour 
arrive*  for  showing  ourselves  to-morrow." 

On  this  intimation,  they  all  soon  disappeared  within  the 
newly  honored  walls  of  the  old  homestead,  where  we  will  leave 
the  happy  circle  to  the  social  enjoyment  which  the  circum 
stances  were  so  well  calculated  to  impart — to  the  enjoyment 
of  emotions  as  pure  and  felicitous,  probably,  as  ever  gladdened 
the  home  and  hearth  of  any  family  on  earth. 

It  was  about  nine  the  next  forenoon  when  Deacon  Mud- 
gridge,  who  had  not  been  out  in  the  street  that  morning, 
suddenly  started  from  a  reverie  in  which  he  seemed  to  have 
been  for  some  time  deeply  buried  as  he  sat  alone  in  his  room, 
rose,  went  to  his  desk,  took  out  a  thick  parcel  of  deeds,  and 
couTited  them  over,  muttering  to  himself  something  about 
their  respective  values  as  he  glanced  at  each  and  laid  it  aside, 
his  mind  being  evidently  engaged  on  a  sort  of  running 
computation  of  the  amount  of  his  possessions. 

"  Twent*  farms  and  ten  houses.  Ay,  a  full  score  of 
valuable  farms,  and  half  as  many  good  tenements,  besides  my 
money -bonds;  and  I  should  like  to  know  how  any  body  is  to 
get  them  away  from  me?"  he  said,  putting  up  the  papers,  and 
beginning  to  pace  the  room  with  a  cert-iin  look  of  unrest  and 
secret  apprehension,  which  sadly  belied  the  boastful  and 
defiant  words  he  was  uttering.  "  Then,  what  need  this 


442  THE    DOOMED    CHIEF. 

uneasiness — this  boding  fear  that  the  Lord,  who  has  so  long 
blessed  and  favored  his  servant  above  other  men,  is  now  about 
to  desert  him  and  give  him  over  to  the  bufferings  of  Sathan  ? 
There  is  none  !  Then,  begone  with  ye,  phantoms  !  I  will 
not — but,  hush!  hark!  Was  that  not  a  rap  on  the  door? 
Ay,  it  is  Dummer's  rap.  COME  IN  !  Come  in,  brother 
Dummer.  I  know  you  by  your  rap  almost  as  well  as  I  do  by 
your  voice.  Sit  down,  and  tell  me  the  news.  I  am  glad  you 
dropt  in,  brother ;  I  was  feeling  quite  lonely  this  morning." 

"  A  little  lonely,  peradventure,  our  honored  Deacon  may 
sometimes  feel  j  yet  he  is  never  alone — the  Lord  is  always 
with  him,"  observed  the  Shadow,  obsequiously. 

"  Your  words  are  of  kindly  intent,  albeit  they  do  over 
much  exalt  me  in  the  matter  of  spiritual  desert,  brother 
Dummer,"  rejoined  the  Deacon,  with  affected  meekness. 
"  Yea,  verily,  I  fear  so;  but  I  was  inquiring  about  the  news 
— is  there  any  thing  in  particular  stirring  abroad  in  the  streets 
this  morning  ?" 

"  Why,  not  much,"  replied  the  Shadow,  slightly  hesitating. 
<l  Nothing,  in  truth,  I  may  say,  save  the  assembling  of  the 
court,  which  seems  to  be  going  on,  and  the  which — " 

"  Assembling  of  the  court  !"  interrupted  the  Deacon, 
starting — •'*  Assembling  of  the  court,  Dummer,  and  I  know 
nothing  about  it? —  I  not  consulted — not  even  notified! 
What  does  that  mean  ?  What  is  it  for?  What  is  to  be  done 
there,  Dummer  ?" 

"  Well,  touching  that,  now,  Deacon,"  replied  the  Shadow, 
"  I  can't  say  as  I  know  myself,  exactly.  As  I  was  going  by, 
I  noticed  people  going  into  the  court  room,  and  was  moved  to 
drop  in  it  also.  But  though  most  of  the  usual  sitting  magis 
trates  were  assembled,  I  heard  no  announcement  whereby  I 
could  hear  the  occasion  thereof." 

"  But  didn't  you  hear  anybody  say  what  matters  were  to 


THE    DEACON    AND    THE    SHADOW.  443 

come  before  the  court  to-day,  Dummer  ?"  eagerly  persisted  the 
other,  with  a  disturbed  and  suspicious  air. 

<%  Yea,"  said  the  Shadow — "  yea,  Deacon,  now  I  bethink 
me,  I  (fid  hear  one  man  tell  another,  that  he  guessed  the 
court,  were  going  to  try  some  criminals.  But  there  was  no 
show  of  any  such  questionable  characters  there  to  confirm  it; 
albeit,  there  was  one  there  who  shouM  be  held  as  a  criminal 
by  the  whole  household  of  faitli — I  mean  that  scoffing  Cap 
tain  Mosely,  who  so  audaciously  obstructed  the  course  of  the 
law  here  last  summer,  in  the  matter  of  the  contumacious  Vane 
Willis,  and  who  then  again  afterwards,  broke  away  so  offen 
sively  from  service,  at  the  time  I  made  my  great  prayer  for 
the  strengthening  of  the  army." 

<:  That  Mosely — that  bold  scoffer,  do  you  mean  ?  Are  you 
sure  it  was  he  you  saw  there,  Dummer  ?"  sharply  demanded 
the  Deacon. 

"  Verily,  it  was  the  same  man,  Deacon,"  answered  the 
Shadow,  looking  up  inquiringly  at  the  former,  as  if  at  loss  to 
account  for  his  disturbed  manner.  "  It  surely  was  the  man  ; 
though  1  could  but  marvel  how  his  presence  could  be  tolerated 
there  as  it  was.  But  you  do  know,  Deacon,  how  strangely  his 
forwardness  has  been  winked  at  by  some  of  our  temporal 
rulers;  and  more  so  than  ever  today,  met  nought;  for  I  saw 
him  actually  whispering  with  the  governor." 

On  this  the  Deacon  hastily  rose,  and,  with  visible  pertur 
bation,  rapidly  paced  the  room  several  minutes  in  silence; 
when  turning  short  on  the  Shadow,  he  abruptly  asked — 

"  Dummer,  where  is  Dick  Swain  ?" 

"  Well,  now,  really,  Deacon,  I  do  not  recall  having  seen  him 
this  morning,"  replied  the  other;  "nay,  I  have  not,  nor 
even  yesterday,  as  for  that  matter.  He  don't  seem  to  have 
been  about  as  usual." 

"  Worse  and  worse,"  muttered  the  Deacon  to  himself,  as 
he  resumed  his  hurried  walk,  with  increasing  agitation. 


444  THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

((  Tilings  all  point  one  way  —  my  bodings  h;»d  a  meaning.  It 
lias  come  ;  but  it  must  be  met  boldly.  Dummer,"  he  con 
tinued,  again  stopping  before  the  xvondering  Shadow,  with  an 
effort  at  calmness — **  Brother  Dummer,  you  always  professed 
to  be  my  friend — stand  by  me  to-day — I  greatly  suspect  some 
evil  is  designed  against  me  ;  but  it  is  a  device  of  Sathan  to 
destroy  my  influence,  and  must  be  put  down  ;  and  may  T  not 
safely  count  on  the  aid  of  your  powerful  spiritual  arm,  in  case 
anything  untoward  shall  befall  ?" 

"  Of  ?»  verify  you  may,  my  honored  Deacon."  warmly  re 
plied  the  Shadow,  his  enthusiasm  instantly  kindling  at  this 
flattering  appeal,  as  little  as  be  could  comprebend  any  neces 
sity  for  making  it.  '•  But  what  is  there  untoward  that  can 
happen  ?  And  what  has  my  Deacon  to  fear,  if  there  should  ? 
Doth  not  the  Scripture  say  the  arms  of  the  wicked  shall  be 
broken  ;  but  the  Lord  uphold eth  the  righteous  ?" 

"  As  steel  sharpenelh  steel,  so  do  your  words  of  faith  re- 
assufb  and  strengthen  me.  brother  Dummer,"  responded  the 
Desioon.  u  I  shall  feel  strong  with  you  battling  by  my  side. 
But  do  not  be  baffled  by  Sathan  into  any  doubts  and  misgiv 
ings  in  the  matters  of  accusation  he  may  instigate  against 
me." 

"  X;»y,  T  will  not,"  rejoined  the  Shadow,  boldly  ;  "  T  will 
put  on  my  whole  armor  and  dare  the  adversary  to  his  face.*' 

"  Then  let  us  hence  to  the  court  room,"  said  the  Deacon, 
hurriedly  taking  his  hat  and  leading  the  way  out  of  the 
hou^e. 

On  reaching  the  court  room,  the  presentient  Deacon  and  his 
church  militant  champion,  found  the  jrovernor,  his  assistants, 
the  minister,  and  the  licensed  religious  teacher,  alloccnpving  the 
bench  in  silence,  and  with  no  apparent  business  before  them. 
At  almost  any  other  time  the  Deacon  would  have  entered  the 
room  under  the  confident  expectation  of  beins:  immediately 
conducted  to  a  seat  on  the  bench,  by  the  attending  officer,  or, 


THE   DEACON    NEGLECTED.  445 

of  being  beckoned  thither  by  the  governor,  the  ex-offioio 
Chief  Judue  since  he  had  often  been  called  to  sit  among 
the  magistrates  as  one  of  the  representatives  of  the  over-sha 
dowing  ecclesiastical  part  of  the  government.  But  now  his 
conscience-suggested  fears  and  forebodings  had  so  deeply 
shaken  his  self-confidence,  that  he  made  no  expectant  pause 
as  he  passed  the  officer  near  the  door,  and  scarcely  ventured  a 
glance  at  the  governor  for  the  notice  by  which  he  had  been 
so  frequently  distinguished  on  entering  the  court  room,  on 
the  eve  of  a  session.  And  therefore,  after  a  sort  of  hesitating 
lingering  in  front  of  the  bench,  for  a  moment,  he  passed  on 
to  a  seat  among  the  scattered  audience,  and  vrith  an  assumed 
air  of  unconcern,  began  to  look  around  him  a  little,  closely 
scanning  the  expression*  of  the  countenances  of  the  leading  lay 
men  present,  and  finally  ending  his  inspection  by  a  sharp,  but 
covert  dance  at  the  different  members  of  the  court.  But  his 
anxious  eye  was  greeted  with  little  to  comfort  or  assure  him 
from  any  quarter.  The  governor  appeared  unusually  moody, 
and  an  air  of  stern  resolution  was  visibly  brooding  upon  his 
countenance.  Two  of  the  assistant  magistrates  sat  with  their 
heads  together,  and  with  solemn,  regretful  looks,  appeared  to 
be  discussing,  in  low,  subdued  tones,  some  subject  mutually 
painful  and  repugnant  to  their  feelings.  And  all  the  rest  of 
the  officials,  as  well  as  many  leading  men  among  the  specta 
tors,  appeared  singularly  thoughtful  or  disturbed;  their  looks, 
which  were  often  turned  furtively  towards  the  door,  plainly 
indicating  a  more  or  less  denned  expectation  in  their  minds 
that  something  very  unusual  or  unpleasant  was  about  to 
transpire. 

At  this  juncture,  a  slight  bustle  at  the  door  instantly  drew 
all  eyes  in  that  direction  ;  when  the  brawny  figure  of  Captain 
Mosely  was  seen  boldly  pushing  forward  into  the  room,  fol 
lowed  by  Captain  Willis,  and  another  and  unknown  person 
age,  with  a  slouched  hat  on,  drawn  down  low  over  his  eyes, 


446  THE   DOOMED    CHIEF. 

an  Indian  blanket  wrapped  around  his  shoulders,  and  brought 
up  so  high  and  close  on  each  side  of  his  face,  as,  with  the 
hat,  wholly  to  conceal  his  features  from  the  view  of  all  gazers. 
One  after  the  other,  the  strongly  contrasted  trio  stalked 
mutely  along  the  aisle,  passed  on  in  front  of  the  court,  :md 
turned  into  a  conspicuous  seat  in  the  rear  of  the  bar  at  wliich 
criminals  were  usually  brought  for  their  arraignment.  The 
two  officers  had  removed  their  hats  on  entering,  but  the  other 
kept,  his  on,  and  still  retained  it,  together  with  his  blanket 
muffler,  in  place,  after  he  became  seated  ;  exhibiting,  as  he 
sat  with  low,  drooping  head,  both  in  outward  rig  and  deport 
ment,  the  general  appearance  of  some  sullen  Indian  prisoner, 
as  he  was  taken  to  be  by  most  of  the  spectators.  Presently, 
Captain  Mosely  slowly  raised  himself  to  his  feet,  and  looking 
round  over  the  gathering  crowd,  with  a  sort  of  mock  gravity, 
till  his  eye  had  singled  out  the  squat,  cowering  form  of  Dea 
con  Mudgridge,  and  then  turning  to  the  court,  and  balancing 
himself  on  his  toes  a  moment,  he  bluntly  asked  the  governor 
if  he  was  ready  to  proceed  to  business  ?  And,  taking  the 
affirmative  nod  of  his  excellency  as  a  satisfactory  answer  to 
the  question,  he  quietly  drew  his  broad  palm  across  his 
mouth  to  smooth  down  the  mischief-boding  pucker  which  had 
gathered  there,  and  soon  began — 

"  Well,  then,  I  suppose  your  honor  and  others  will  renum 
ber  a  little  bit  of  a  word  fracas  we  had  in  this  town,  last  summer, 
over  an  attempt  to  detain  Captain  Willis  on  charge  of  Quaker 
ism,  or  some  such  trumpery  matter,  at  a  time,  when  he  and 
I,  with  our  companies,  were  pushing  on  to  the  frontier  to  help 
put  down  the  Indian  outbreak  ;  and  when  every  minute's  delay 
might  cost  the  scalp  of  a  white  man,  and  the  lives  of  his  wife 
and  babies.  And  your  honor  will  pretty  likely  remember, 
likewise  how  I  interfered — a  little  roughly,  may  be,  to  get,  the 
object  of  that  muss  off  so  that  he  could  go  about  his  business, 
which  God  knows  was  urgent  enough,  at  the  time.  Well, 


>«IOSELY'S  INTRODUCTION.  447 

sir,  as  now  the  captain,  after  good  service,  finds  himself,  while 
getting  well  of  wounds  received  in  battle,  with  the  leisure  and 
disposition  to  meet  all  claims  the  authorities  may  have  on  him, 
I  have  brought  him  here  to  deliver  him  up,  so  that  a  certain 
Deacon  I  wot  of,  who  seemed  to  be  the  stirrer  up  of  that 
notable  affair,  shall  not  say  that  /  have  robbed  him  of  the 
chance  of  displaying  his  righteous  indignation  in  the  matter 
he  appeared  so  intent  on  prosecuting.  And  here  is  the  man, 
sitting  on  my  right,  so  that  his  saintship  yonder,  the  devil 
helping,  may  now  work  his  will  on  him/'  added  the  rough 
soldier,  motioning  carelessly  with  one  hand  to  Willis,  and 
pointing  significantly  with  the  other  to  Deacon  Mudgridge. 

The  court — especially  the  governor,  seemed  to  be  taken 
with  surprise  by  this  singular  announcement.  It  had  been 
as  we  presume  the  reader  has  already  inferred,  privately  inti 
mated  to  his  excellency  what  developments  might  be  expected, 
respecting  the  character  and  crimes  of  Deacon  Mudgridge — 
developments  that,  for  reasons,  which  his  observations  the 
past  year  had  supplied,  but  which  he  had  prudently  kept  to 
himself,  he  was  not  wholly  unprepared  to  witness  ;  and  he  had 
that  morninir,  with  feelings  of  the  deepest  chagrin,  made 
partial  revelations  of  the  painful  occurrence  to  his  assistants. 
But  neither  he,  nor  they,  had  any  expectation  that  the  forth 
coming  disclosures  were  to  be  prefaced  by  any  such  presenta 
tion  as  Mosely,  through  some  policy  or  whim  of  his  own,  had 
made  in  relation  to  an  old,  gone-by  case,  which,  even  at  the 
time,  was  considered,  to  say  the  least,,  very  unadvisedly  got 
up  by  the  Deacon.  And  his  excellency,  scarcely  knowing, 
therefore,  what  response  to  make  to  the  strange  communica 
tion,  which  seemed  to  be  left  so  as  to  invite  some  action  or 
remarks  on  his  part,  turned,  after  a  doubtful  pause,  to  his 
assistants,  and  went  into  a  brief  whispered  consultation  with 
them  on-  the  subject.  But  the  affair  evidently  had  a  very 
different  effect  on  the  troubled  Deacon.  He  had  from  time  to 


448  THE   DOOMED    CHIEF. 

time  been  casting  uneasy  and  suspicious  glances  at  the  strange 
muffled  figure,  sitting  mute  and  motionless  near  the  two 
officers  whom  he  had  followed  into  the  court  room.  As  soon, 
however,  as  Captain  Mosely  had  brought  his  communication 
to  a  close,  in  a  manner  to  lead  to  the  supposition  that 
nothing  more  was  intended  than  what  it  purported  to  be,  the 
countenance  of  the  Deacon  began  visibly  to  brighten,  and 
perk  up  into  something  like  his  old  airs  of  assurance  and  holy 
antagonism.  Mosely's  movement  had  misled  him,  and  be 
lieving  the  danger  of  the  dreaded  developement  to  be  over, 
he  drew  a  long  breath,  as  if  relieved  of  an  overpowering 
burden,  and  began  to  rally  his  controversial  forces  for  an 
emergency,  in  which,  if  that  were  all,  he  felt  himself  strong 
to  give  battle. 

14 1  did"  he  said,  at  length  floundering  on  to  his  feet,  with 
hands,  locks,  and  voice  all  in  a  flush — "  I  did — and  it  shameth 
me  not  to  confess  it,  though  scoffers  may  revile  and  speak 
tauntingly — T  did,  at  the  important  crisis  mentioned,  verily 
believe  we  had  a  duty  to  perform,  in  rebuking  the  crying 
heresies,  which  were  bringing  the  displeasure  of  Heaven  on 
the  bmd,  as  seen  in  the  threatened  war  with  the  heathen  sal 
vages.  And,  wherefore,  I  did  move  in  the  matter  of  the 
reported  pestilent  Quakerism  of  the  man,  Vane  Willis,  even 
unto  the  pointing  him  out  for  the  action  of  the  authorities. 
And  T  am  hold  to  sny,  it  was  a  during  offence,  and  one  argu 
ing  a  guiltiness  of  the  charire,  for  him  to  put  them  at  defiance 
in  the  contumacious  way  and  manner  he  and  his  confederate 
did,  on  that  disgraceful  occasion." 

"  Amen  !"  here  loudly  chimed  in  the  Shadow,  suddenly 
bobbing  up  from  another  part  of  the  crowd,  like  a  startled 
kangaroo.  "I,  for  one,  can  truly  say  arnen  to  every  word 
just  uttered  by  our  God  loving  brother,  Deacon  Mudgridge, 
?ho  has  done  but  his  conscience-directed  duty,  in  striving  to 
purge  the  land  from  the  abominations  of  its  heresies,  uuto 


WILLIS'S  SERVICES  ACKNOWLEDGED.  449 

the   turning   away  of  Divine  wrath,  from  a  greatly  sinning 
people." 

"  Ay,"  rejoined  the  Deacon,  warming  up,  "  brother  Dum- 
mer  hath  spoken  truly  touching  the  dangers  of  our  remissness, 
in  tolerating  the  pestilent  heresies  of  the  day.  They  are  the 
great  curse  breeders  of  our  American  Israel.  And  yet,"  he 
continued  with  the  air  of  an  injured  man — a  and  yet,  for  my 
lionest  strivings  against  the  alarming  evil — for  the  attempting 
my  God-bounden  duty,  in  that  behalf,  I  am  held  up  here,  in 
words  of  profane  levity  and  scoffing,  for  the  invited  reproach 
of  a  Christian  court !  Ay,  held  up  here  as  one  called  to 
account,  as  if,  forsooth,  faithfulness  to  duty  were  some  crying 
offence  !" 

"  Peace !"  said  the  governor,  who,  having  finished  his 
hasty  consultation,  had  been  listening,  for  the  last  few  minutes, 
with  evident  impatience,  to  the  Deacon's  back  fire,  as  all  in 
the  secrets  of  the  hour,  at  once  perceived  it  to  be — "  peace  ! 
this  discussion  is  needless.  Nobody  is  to  be  called  to  account 
in  anything  relating  to  the  untoward  affair  of  last  summer, 
whereof  mention  has  been  made.  There  is  no  charge  against 
Captain  Willis  before  this  court.  On  the  contrary,  I  deem  it 
a  duty  to  say  here  openly,  that  since  witnessing  his  gallant 
conduct  in  the  taking  of  the  Narraganset  fort,  and  then  in 
vestigating  for  myself  his  previous  course  and  character,  I 
have  felt  an  increasing  conviction  of  the  injustice  that  has 
been  done  him.  But  the  error,  I  trust,  will  now  soon  bo 
atoned,  by  conferring  on  him  the  rank  and  commiHsion,  which 
shall  not  only  make  amends  for  past  neglect,  but  induce  him 
to  continue  his  valuable  services  for  the  future." 

"  There  it  is,  at  last !"  said  Mosely  with  a  low,  exulting 
chuckle,  turning  to  the  young  officer  at  his  side,  who  appeared 
like  one  doubting  his  own  senses  in  what  he  had  just  heard — 
"  there  it  is,  right  from  head  quarters ;  and  done  like  a  man, 
too  !  You  now  see  what  I  was  after,  don't  you,  Willis  ?;> 
29 


450  TIIE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

"Ay,"  responded  the  other  in  the  same  undertone.  "  Ay, 
and  many  thanks  to  you,  sir,  for  bringing  it  out  as  publicly 
as  were  the  slights  I  have  received.  But  I  confess  it  has 
taken  me  wholly  unawares." 

"  Well,  my  boy,"  gleefully  returned  the  other,  "  you  are 
evidently  not  the  only  one  taken  by  surprise  by  such  words 
from  such  a  source.  Just  cast  your  eyes  round  over  that 
squad  of  the  Deacon's  worshipers,  that  have  gathered  near 
him,  and  see  what  wondering  and  wriggling  there  is  among 
them  !  and  the  Deacon  himself !  Only  look  at  him,  casting 
doubtfully  about  him  like  a  man  in  a  blue  maze  !  But  hush ! 
The  court  speaks." 

"  Captain  Mosely,"  said  the  Governor  turning  from  another 
brief  interchange  of  opinions  with  one  of  his  assistants,  "  if 
you  have  further  presentments  or  communications  to  make, 
you  can  now  proceed  with  them." 

"  I  will/'  promptly  replied  Captain  Mosely,  rising,  "  I  will 
proceed,  at  once  with  my  part  in  trie  forthcoming  matter, 
•which  I  am  happy  to  say  consists  merely  i»  introducing 
another,  who  is  abundantly  able  to  do  his  own  speaking,  and 
make  his  own  presentments  of  the  extraordinary  transactions 
that  have  driven  him  here  to  day  for  justice.  And  I  accord 
ingly  announce  the  man  sitting  here  on  my  right,  and  bespeak 
for  him  the  favor — the  only  favor  he  asks — of  the  unpreju 
diced  audience  of  this  honorable  court." 

The  muffled  unknown  who  had  been  indicated  by  the  last 
speaker,  and  to  whom  all  eyes  had  thus  been  drawn,  now 
quietly  disrobed  himself  of  his  disguising  outer  rig,  and 
calmly  rose  to  his  feet,  revealing  to  the  wondering  spectators 
the  ensemble  of  an  oldish,  dark-visaged,  but  richly  appareled 
English  gentleman,  of  an  unusually  commanding  person  and 
countenance.  A  low  buzz  of  eager,  broken  whispers  ran 
through  the  crowd,  and  some  half-uttered  name  seemed 
struggling  on  the  lips  of  many  a  doubting  inquirer;  but  no 


SOLTHWORTH'S  SPEECH.  451 

word  or  exclamation  was  heard,  even  from  the  Deacon,  who, 
however,  turned  very  pale,  and,  involuntarily  starting  partly 
to  his  feet,  and  recoiling  back  against  those  crowding  up  from 
behind  him,  stood,  with  one  hand  thrown  forward,  palm 
outward,  as  if  for  defence,  mutely  glaring  at  the  apparition 
that  had  so  suddenly  emerged  into  view. 

"  There  may  be  those  here,"  said  the  object  of  this  curiosity 
and  commotion^  in  clear,  self  possessed  accents,  after  a  mo 
mentary  survey  of  the  mingled  assembly — "there  may  be, 
and  doubtless  ar,e,  those  here  present,  both  on  the  bench  and 
among  the  spectators,  who  will  recognize  in  me  Colonel 
Richard  Southworth,  formerly  a  citizen  of  this  good  town  of 
Plymouth,  but  latterly  a  hunted  outcast,  and  a  homeless 
wanderer  in  the  woods,  or  among  strange  peoples  abroad.  But 
I  come  not  into  this  presence  to  complain  of  the  acts  which 
drove  me  from  home,  or  to  speak  of  the  adventures  or 
misadventures  that  befel  me  during  the  long,  dark  period  of 
my  compulsory  exile.  I  come  for  a  different  and  more  im 
portant  purpose.  I  come  to  claim  the  indubitable  rights 
which  have  been  wrested  from  me  in  my  absence.  And  in 
this  behalf,"  he  continued,  glancing  defiantly  around  him, 
and  raising  his  deep-toned  voice  to  a  pitch  of  startling  loud- 
ness — "  in  this  behalf,  I  arraign  before  this  honorable  court, 
Deacon  John  Mudgridge,  on  charge  of  the  willful  embezzle 
ment  of  my  property,  of  gross  fraud,  and  of  other  still  more 
heinous  crimes  and  misdemeanors  !" 

"  I  deny  !  I  remonstrate  !  I  protest !"  shouted  the  Deacon, 
in  quick,  husky  tones,  rising  almost  to  a  scream.  "  Yea,  I  do 
solemnly  protest.  I  do  deny  the  man's  right  to  appear  before 
this  court  at  all.  He  is  an  outlaw;  and  instead  of  allowing 
him  to  come  here  to  malign  and  arraign  innocent  men,  the 
authorities  should  see  to  it  that  he  is  arrested  himself — and, 
verily,  I  do  suppose  it  is  their  bounder)  duty  to  do  it — and 
send  him.  back  to  expiate  his  offenses  in  England.  Can't  you 


452  THE  DOOMED   CHIEF. 

seize  him,  Mr.  constable?  Why  don't  you  seize  him  there? 
Any  of  you — all  of  you!  I  order  it!  I  command  it!" 

"  Yea,  and  I,  too,"  here  rang  out  the  loud  voice  of  the 
Shadow,  whose  tall  form,  at  the  first  pause  made  by  the 
Deacon  for  breath,  was  seen  suddenly  shooting  up  over  the 
crowd,  with  the  jerk  of  an  opening  jack-knife — "  and  I,  too, 
must,  add  rny  protest,  my  most  signal  rebuke,  to  such  unheard 
of  doings  j  for  I  can  hold  my  peace  no  longer,  when  words  so 
audacious,  even  unto  the  assailing  of  the  very  pillars  of  our 
Israel,  are  permitted  to  be — " 

"Will  the  gentleman,"  interrupted  the  colonel,  glancing 
from  the  court  to  his  opponents — "will  Loth  the  gentle  men 
spare  their  breaths  till  I  can  show,  as  I  was  about  to  do  before, 
my  right  to  appear  in  court  as  I  have,  which  the  gentleman 
has  so  pointedly  denied.  And  here  is  my  showing — here,  in 
this  document,"  he  continued,  drawing  forth  a  parchment  and 
triumphantly  waving  it  aloft — "here  is  a  free  and  full  pardon 
and  reversal  of  my  cruel  sentence,  and  a  restoration  to  my 
former  rights  and  privileges,  and  all  under  the  royal  seal  of 
KING  JAMES  OF  ENGLAND!  Will  that  satisfy  the  gentleman 
with  whom  I  am  about  to  deal  ?  Here,  Captain  Willis,  please 
pass  this  up  to  the  court,"  he  added,  pausing  till  the  document 
could  be  examined. 

"  Yes,  the  paper  is  evidently  authentic;  so  you  can  proceed, 
colonel,"  at  length  said  the  governor,  with  gloomy  stenmtas. 
"This  thing,  strike  where  it  will,  must  be  met.  It  is  die  to 
the  character  of  this  court  and  colony,  that  there  sh*«ld  be 
no  shrinking,  even  from  the  most  painful  of  duties.  Proceed, 
sir." 

"  I  said  I  arraigned  John  Mudgridge  for  embezzling  my 
property,"  resumed  the  fearless  accuser  ;  "  and  I  do  so  charge 
him,  your  honors.  When  I  left  Plymouth,  I  had  ten  thou 
sand  pounds  deposited  in  the  bank  of  Amsterdam,  only  one- 
twentieth  of  which  has  ever  been  drawn  out  for  my  per- 


THE   DEACON   FLUSTERED.  453 

sonal  use,  in  my  absence.  He,  as  I  am  prepared  to  prove,  has 
drawn  the  rest." 

"  It  is  false  !  I  deny  it !  that  is,  he  can't  prove  a  word  of 
it — no,  not  a  word.  And  suppose  I  did  draw,  had  I  not  au 
thority  for  it?  Yea,  even  under  his  own  hands,  and  I  defy 
him  to  gainsay  it !"  exclaimed  the  Deacon,  blending  his  denials 
and  admissions  all  in  one  breath,  in  his  confusion,  as  he  re 
turned  desperately  to  the  fight. 

11  It  is  true,"  coolly  rejoined  the  colonel,  pausing  and  cast 
ing  a  contemptuous  glance  at  the  accused — "  it  is  very  true, 
your  honors,  that  I  did  give  him  discretionary  power  to  draw 
one  thousand  pounds  for  the  use  of  my  family  in  case  of  need. 
But  not  one  half  of  even  that  sum  was  ever  expended  by  or 
for  them.  Now,  where  was  his  authority  for  drawing  the  rest  ?" 

"  I  was  his  agent.  1  was — I  was  his  agent,  1  say,"  stain- 
mered  the  more  :md  more  confounded  Deacon,  halting  in  his 
stniit  between  the  dangers  of  persisting  in  his  denials,  and 
those  of  compromising  himself  by  further  admissions,  while 
attempting  to  find  justification  by  avoiding  both.  "  Yea,  his 
general  agent,  and  he  can't  deny  it — ay,  the  manager  of  his 
whole  property,  and  thereby  could  rightfully,  supposing  I  had 
drawn  it,  could  rightfully  draw  the  whole  of  it.  I  say,  sup 
posing  I  had  ;  but  it  all  rests  on  his  assertions — yea,  the 
assertions  of — " 

"  Not-  on  my  assertions  alone,  as  you  will  soon  find,  equiv 
ocating  miscreant,"  impatiently  interrupted  the  colonel,  bend 
ing  his  withering  gaze  upon  the  cowering  Deacon.  "  I  have 
not  come  here  to  bandy  words,  empty  handed  of  proof  to  back 
my  assertions.  Here,"  he  continued,  producing  a  package 
of  papers  nnd  holding  them  up  to  view — "  here  are  the  ori 
ginal  drafts,  orders,  and  certificates,  procured  by  my  agents 
abroad  from  the  bank  itself,  all  duly  authenticated,  and  ;ill 
clearly  showing  where"  the  money  went  to.  Here  they  are  !  I 
pass  them  up  for  the  examination  of  the  court;  and  we  will 


454  THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

see  who  will  be  the  best  content  to  abide  the  consequences  of 
the  damning  evidence  they  contain." 

There  was  now  another  considerable  pause  in  the  war  of 
words  ;  and  while  the  court  were  engaged  in  examining  and 
comparing  the  papers  which  had  been  thus  submitted  to 
their  inspection,  the  whole  assembly  sat  in  breathless 
silence,  with  their  excited  countenances  turned  expectingly 
on  the  court. 

"  In  looking  at  those  papers,"  resumed  the  cool,  but  deter 
mined  accuser,  rising,  as  appearances  indicated  that  the  ex 
amination  of  the  papers  was  essentially  concluded,  "  the  court 
will  perceive  that  the  first  draft,  in  the  order  of  time,  is 
signed  by  myself,  and  for  the  thousand  pounds  I  have  already 
named,  as  drawn  by  the  accused  with  my  sanction.  Next, 
within  the  same  year,  another  draft  for  five  hundred  pounds, 
with  my  genuine  signature  also  attached,  but  drawn  by  ano 
ther  agent  for  my  personal  use,  while  in  exile.  Then  follows, 
under  consecutive  dates,  two  others  drawn  by  the  accused, 
and  signed  by  him  as  my  agent,  together  with  an  accompany 
ing  letter  full  of  singularly  false  representations.  And  then, 
as  seen  in  this  certified  statement,  the  banker  declining  to 
honor  any  more  drafts  so  signed  on  account  of  some  fears  that 
all  was  not  right — then,  at  intervals,  follow  two  others  for 
the  remainder  of  the  fund,  which  purport  to  have  been  signed 
by  myself,  but  which  the  court,  I  think,  by  comparing  them 
with  my  admitted,  genuine  signatures,  and  the  general  hand 
writing  of  the  accused,  cannot  fail  to  believe  to  be,  what  / 
here  fearUssly  pronounce  them,  —  bold  and  shameless  FOR 
GERIES  !" 

The  whole  assembly,  as  may  well  be  supposed,  were  thrown 
into  commotion  by  these  last  more  definite  disclosures  and  ac 
cusations,  which  had  been  wound  up  by  this  astounding  an 
nouncement.  The  Deacon,  whose  intense  anxieties  had  before 
brought  him  to  his  feet,  stood  a  moment  like  one  suddenly 


THE    SHADOW   DOUBTS.  455 

transfixed  by  a  bolt  from  the  heavens.  Then  his  features  be 
gan  to  work  and  twitch,  showing  signs  of  reviving  oppug- 
nanoy.  And  then  he  fell  to  gesticulating  violently  with  both 
hands,  while  his  lips  moved  rapidly,  in  the  evident  attempt  to 
speak.  But  his  flustered  voice  had  become  so  hollow  and 
husky,  that  the  half  uttered  word  fa — fal — -false  !  could  only 
be  distinguished,  as,  with  the  sounds  dying  away  into  incohe 
rent  muttering*,  he  dropped  into  his  seat  and  covered  his  face 
with  both  hands  to  hide  his  overwhelming  confusion. 

The  Shadow — the  poor,  trusting,  honest,  but  sadly  duped 
Shadow,  even  looked  blank  and  bewildered,  arid  glanced  this 
way  and  that,  uneasily  about  him,  a/loubt  of  his  great  oracle's 
infallibility  now  evidently  for  the  first  time  crossing  his  sim 
ple  mind  And  the  whole  audience,  astonished  at  these  un 
expected  disclosures  and  accusations  against  one  who  stood, 
as  they  supposed,  immeasurably  above  the  possibility  even  of 
the  imputation  of  crime,  and  still  utterly  unable  to  bring  their 
minds  to  the  reluctant  belief,  everywhere  gave  token  of  intense 
excitement,  and  with  one  accord,  after  exchanging  a  few  hur 
ried  looks  and  words  among  themselves,  now  turned  again 
eairerly  to  the  court,  and  sat  waiting  in  feverish  anxiety,  to 
catch  their  response  to  the  extraordinary  charges  they  were 
known  to  be  considering. 

That  response  at  length  came.  Governor  Winslow,  after 
an  attempt,  and  then  a  successful  effort,  to  conquer  his  emo 
tions,  drew  a  tremulous  siirh,  and  said — 

"  We  have  somewhat  carefully  examined  the  evidence  you 
have  submitted  to  our  inspection,  Colonel  Southworth,  and 
sad  and  humbling,  indeed,  is  that  duty  which  constrains  us 
to  say  that  we  cannot  resist  the  painful  conviction  of  its  con- 
clusiveriess,  rebutted,  as  it  only  is,  by  confused  denials  and 
unsupported  assertions.  This,  especially  in  regard  to  the 
wrongful  appropriation  of  your  property  by  the  wretched  man 
before  us.  The  property ',  however,  can,  and  in  truth  shall  be, 


456  THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

promptly  restored";  for,  if  he  will  not  voluntarily  make  legal 
transfers  of  enough  of  his  ill-gotten  possessions,  if  he  has 
them,  to  make  good  the  loss,  process  and  decree  shall  at  once 
issue  from  this  court  to  effect  that  object — yea,  the  property 
can  be  restored;  but  what  shall  wipe  away  the  foul  stain  of 
reproach  which  has  been  brought  on  the  good  name  and  fame 
of  this  Christian  colony,  by  acts  of  such  amazing  turpitude  I 
The  accused,  howbeit,  in  the  matter  of  the  felonies  which  are 
alleged,  and  we  fear  with  too  much  reason,  to  have  been  cou 
pled  with  the  embezzlement,  must  be  allowed  the  ordeal  of 
grand  jury  and  trial  by  God  and  the  country,  and  I  wish  I 
could  better  hope  for  hks  safe  deliverance.  Thus  much  for 
what  has  thus  far  been  brought  before  us.  Are  you  through 
with  your  presentments,  Colonel  Southworth  ?" 

"  Not  yet,  your  honor,"  said  the  latter,  promptly  returning 
to  the  charge — "  I  have  not  done  with  the  accused  yet.  In 
addition  to  those  T  have  specified,  I  now  presentment  make  of 
another,  and  not  the  least  in  the  dark  catalogue  of  his  offen 
ses.  I  charge  him  with  having,  within  this  very  vear,  se 
cretly  conspired  and  attempted  to  take  my  life!  1  here  fear 
lessly  aver  that  he,  last  summer,  having  through  a  singular 
incident  connected  with  the  rescue  of  my  daughter  from  his 
infamous  attempt  to  coerce  her  into  marriage  with  a  crenture 
of  his  own — he  having  discovered  that  I  was  alive  and  habit 
ing  obscure  places  near  the  southern  borders  of  this  colony, 
and  carefully  keeping  the  secret  of  my  identity  to  himself, 
did  deliberately,  and  with  murderous  intent,  put  upon  my 
track,  a  band  of  his  hireling  spies  and  assassins,  who  dogged 
me  to  the  house  of  a  friend  ;  where,  with  their  base  instigator 
and  employer  hovering  near  and  giving  orders  for  the  deed, 
they  seized,  and  but  for  my  timely  rescue,  would  have  de 
spatched  me  on  the  spot." 

With   that  lightning-like  flash  of  thought  which  is  some 
times,  in   terrible  emergencies,  known   to   encompass  heaven 


EVIDENCE   OP   DICK    SWAIN.  457 

and  earth  in  an  instant,  the  wretched  Deacon,  in  the  mental 
reaction  that  in  some  measure  succeeded  his  paroxysm  of 
shame  and  guilt  at  his  exposure  and  condemnation  on  the 
previous  charges,  had  glanced  over  every  part  of  the  dark  and 
dubious  prospect  before  him.  He  had  at  first  given  himself 
up  as  irretrievably  lost.  But  as  his  mind  rallied,  he  saw,  in 
the  law's  delays,  in  the  chances  of  invalidating  testimony,  or 
of  corrupting  judge  or  jury,  together  with  what  his  own  tor- 
tU'>us  scheming  could  efiect, — he  saw  in  these  enough  of  hope 
for  escaping  punishment  and  saving  a  good  portion  of  his  pro 
perty  to  raise  him  once  more  partly  out  of  the  black  gulf  of 
his  de.spair.  This  new  and  totally  unexpected  charge,  therefore, 
fell  upon  him  with  much  the  same  effect  as  would  naturally 
be  produced  by  the  fresh  and  ruthless  assault  of  a  conquering 
aggressor  on  one  who,  with  gathering  hope  of  life,  was  just 
rising  from  a  murderous  blow,  the  repetition  of  which  was 
wholly  unanticipated.  His  countenance  at  first  became  the 
picture  of  pitiable  distress.  But  after  pausing  a  moment  in 
his  new  and  aggravated  perplexities,  his  mind  seemed  to  rally 
with  the  belief  that  the  accuser  could  not  possibly,  in  this 
case  at,  least,  be  in  possession  of  any  tangible  proof  to  support 
the  accusation,  and  with  a  last  desperate  effort  at  mustering 
his  forces  of  resistance,  he  made  shift  to  hiss  out  his  old  as 
severations — 

"  It  is  false  ! — false  as  Sathan  himself;  and  I  do — yea,  I  do 
defy  him  to  prove  it  !" 

'•  I  again  accept  his  challenge  !"  promptly  exclaimed  the 
bold  and  confident  accuser.  "  As  little  as  I  expected  the  man 
would  find  assurance  to  give  it,  I  cheerfully  accept  this  chal 
lenge  also;  and  I  trust  the  required  proof  will  not  be  long  in 
forthcoming.  Mr.  Richard  Swain,"  he  added,  calling  aloud 
to  the  recently  enlisted  Dick,  who  had  been  sitting  unnoticed 
in  an  obscure  corner  of  the  room— "  Mr  Swain,  will  you  step 


458  THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

forward  to  the  witnesses'  stand,  be  sworn,  and  testify  to  what 
you  know  about  the  case  on  hand  ?" 

Dick,  with  a  sort  of  self-abased,  deprecatory  air,  now  hur 
riedly  shuffled  forward,  took  the  stand,  went  through  the 
forms  of  the  oath,  and  with  the  eyes  of  the  excited,  but 
breathlessly  silent  crowd  bent  intently  upon  him,  proceeded 
with  sundry  apologetic  remarks  about  having  been  deceived 
and  acting  from  a  mistaken  sense  of  duty,  to  relate  what,  in 
the  progress  of  the  story,  may  have  already  been  learned  or 
inferred  by  the  reader,  respecting  the  secret  and  dastardly 
attempt  of  Deacon  JMudgridue  and  his  hireling  band  of  spies 
and  assassins,  to  pursue,  entrap,  and  destroy  the  identified 
Southworth;  and  having  hurried  through  the  general  history 
of  the  affair,  he  particularly  described  the  last  damning 
details  of  his  secret  instructions,  accompanied  by  the  promised 
reward  of  a  farm  in  case  of  success,  and  wound  up  by  lifting 
his  eyes  to  the  court,  and  firmly  emphasizing, 

"  I  aver,  then,  that  he  did  commission  me  to  do  the  deed, 
which  I  thank  Heaven,  I  was  spared  the  guilt  of  actually 
committing  at  his  instigation — he  did  employ,  and  especially 
enjmn  me  to  MURDER  COLONEL  SOUTHWORTH  !" 

The  whole  assembly  sat  almost  aghast  in  the  astonished 
witnessing  of  such  amazing  depravity.  And  how  felt  he, 
who  was  the  loathed  object  of  this  significant  demonstration 
of  universal  abhorrence  ? — 

"And  how  fell  he,  the  wretched  man, 
Thus  all  unmask'd,  as  memory  ran 
O'er  many  a  year  of  guilt  and  strife  ; 
Nor  found  one  sunny  resting  place  ; 
Nor  brought  him  hack  one  branch  of  grace?'-* 

With  soul-chilling  awe,  have  we  several  times  caught  the 
last  conscious  look  of  men  about  to  perish  by  sudden  and  un 
foreseen  accident;  with  painful  sadness,  have  we  stood  and 
looked  on  at  many  a  sick-bed,  when  the  hope-cheated  sufferer 


AWFUL   DEATH   OP  THE   DEACON.  459 

was  at  last  called  to  look  death  in  the  face  as  an  instant,  un- 
escapable  reality;  and  with  melancholy  interest  have  we  often 
even  noted  the  look  of  the  death  doomed  brute,  glancing 
wildly  up  at  the  descending  axe — we  have  noted  all  the^e,  and 
found  in  them  all,  whether  human  or  brute,  the  same  strange, 
frenzied  look — the  same  indescribable  expression  of  mortal 
terror  stamping  the  countenance,  in  those  awful  moments. 
And  so  looked  the  wretched  Mudgridge.  With  a  first  in 
stinctive  impulse  for  life  and  safety,  it  is  true,  he  cast  a  rapid, 
furtive  glance  at  the  door,  and  began  to  sidle  along  in  that 
direction.  But  the  quick  eye  of  the  secretly  instructed  Sheriff 
in  attendance  instantly  detecting  the  movement,  and  promptly 
confronting  him,  he  turned  round  with  a  look  so  despairing, 
so  frenzied,  and  so  fearful,  as  to  cause  an  involuntary  start 
through  the  whole  crowd  of  shuddering  beholders.  Then  his 
face  suddenly  blanched  to  a  corpse-like  pallor,  and  then,  as 
suddenly,  came  the  fatal  revulsion  of  the  blood  towards  the 
gorged  vessels  of  the  brain,  suffusing,  one  after  another,  neck, 
lips,  cheeks,  and  temples,  till  they  glowed  with  crimson  red 
ness.  The  next  moment,  with  a  quick,  frightful  glare,  he 
wildly  threw  up  his  arms,  staggered,  drooped,  sunk  crippling 
to  the  floor,  gasped,  and  was  dead. 


460  THE  DOOMED   CHIEF. 


CONCLUSION, 

THE  action  of  our  tile  is  not  yet,  in  all  its  parts,  fully 
concluded.  We  wish  it  were  so.  It  were,  indeed,  but  a 
pleasing  office,  if  that  was  all,  to  glance  over  the  bright 
picture  of  the  domestic  felicit^  enjoyed  by  those  in  whom  we 
have  seen  virtue  and  faith  so  signally  rewarded,  while  casting 
the  veil  of  forgetful  ness  over  the  acts  of  those  in  whom  we 
have  also  Sjeeu  vice  and  crime  as  signally  punished.  But 
gladly  would  we  be  spared  the  melancholy  tusk  of  depicting 
the  closing  scene  of  that  frightful  drama  of  war  and  desolation 
which  came  so  near  resulting  in  the  annihilation  of  the  infant 
colonies  of  New  England.  Even  fur  the  credit  of  the  con 
quering  race  would  we  avoid,  as  we  shall,  many  of  the  sicken 
ing  details  that  stained  the  laurels  of  their  final  victories.  It 
is  riot  so  much  for  them,  however,  as  for  the  saddening  duty 
of  following,  to  the  last,  two  of  the  active  personage?  of  our 
story — for  whom,  we  trust,  we  have,  in  despite  of  their 
wickedly  blackened  memories,  succeeded  in  enlisting  a  share 
of  the  reader's  sympathy — that  we  add  the  concluding  pic 
ture.  For  in  that  closing  scene,  the  heroic  and  unfortunate 
Metacom,  and  the  faithful  and  fiery  Wetamoo,  were  both 
destined  to  perish — but  to  perish,  as  they  wished,  otherwise 
than  by  the  hands  of  their  foes  :  in  the  case  of  the  one,  a 
fratricidal  hand  extinguishing  the  great  light  of  the  American 
forest  forever;  and  in  that  of  the  other,  the  embittered  soul, 
by  her  own  act,  voluntarily  ascending,  as  an  accusing  spirit,  to 
her  long  worshipped  Nemesis,  to  demand  retribution  for  the 


SUDDEN    STOP    OF   THE   FOE.  461 

terrible  wrongs  she  had  suffered  at  the  hands  of  the  pale-faced 


*n 

agurcssor. 


It  was  nearly  four  months  subsequent  to  the  occurrence  of 
the  extraordinary  developments  at  Plymouth,  which  brought 
the  main  part  of  our  story  to  a  close  in  all  that  the  reader's 
fancy  could  not  readily  supply.  Since  that,  time,  the  contest 
had  assumed  its  most  fearful  aspect,  and  resulted  in  the  most 
disastrous  consequences  to  the  distressed  and  straitened  colo 
nists.  Three  different  corps  of  their  bravest  troops,  with  their 
gallant  leaders,  had  been  successively  cut  up,  routed,  or  utterly 
destroyed,  by  the  thickly  mustering  and  frightfully  vengeful 
foemeri.  Pour  flourishing  villages,  within  twenty  miles  of 
Boston  and  Plymouth,  had  been  successively  assailed  in  open 
day,  and  the  bones  and  ashes  of  their  helpless  inhabitants  left 
mingling  with  the  red  ruins  of  their  plundered  and  desolated 
homes.  The  storm  of  war,  indeed,  rolling  on  nearer  and 
nearer,  and  growing  darker  and  more  portentous  with  every 
hour  of  its  appalling  progress,  had  already  approached  to  the 
very  confines  of  the  populous  towns  and  cities  of  the  coast, 
threatening  the  immediate  destruction  even  of  this  last  line 
of  the  strongholds,  and  the  refuges  of  the  alarmed  residents 
and  the  frightened  and  fast  ingathering  people  of  the  sur 
rounding  country.  And  both  rulers  and  people,  perplexed 
and  amazed  at  the  overshadowing  portents  of  the  hour,  seemed 
almost  equally  at  loss  which  way  to  turn  to  escape  the  terrible 
doom  that,  to  all  human  appearance,  must  soon  overtake  them. 
Bur.  happily,  their  fears  were  not  to  be  realized.  All  at  once, 
the  stona  ceased  to  advance.  The  expected  bolt  fell  not. 
Why  this  etrange  delay  of  the  beleaguering  foe,  at  a  moment 
when  they  seemingly  had  the  keenly  coveted  prize  of  victory 
all  but  within  their  very  grasp?  What  unseen  hand  had 
stayed  that  woe-freighted  avalanche?  Yes,  why  was  all  this? 
The  question  has  been  smswered  in  almost,  as  many  number 
of  ways  as  the  number  of  different  original  writers  who  have 


462  THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

attempted  to  grapple  with  it,  but  never  answered  to  any 
general  acceptance.  To  this  day,  it  is  one  of  the  mysteries 
$f  history;  and  no  satisfactory  explanation  has  ever  been 
furnished,  unless  it  be  not  found  in  the  remark  made  by  ot?e 
of  the  prisoner  chiefs  to  his  taunting  captors,  after  the  red 
man's  calamity  had  fallen  :  "  You  gould  have  never  subdued 
us,"  he  said,  "had  not  the  Englishman's  God  suddenly  made 
us  afraid."  Indeed,  it  did  seem  as  if,  at  this  fearful  crisis, 
the  finger  of  Providence  had  been  suddenly  extended,  and 
thnt  the  whole  of  that  formidable  wampum  league,  like  a 
blight-smitten  tendril,  or  rope  of  sand,  had  withered  and 
crumbled  at^he  touch. 

And  so  it  was ;  at  the  very  hour  when  the  prospects  of  the 
victorious  avengers  of  the  forests  were  the  brightest,  and  those 
of  the  trembling  colonists  were  the  darkest,  the  tide  of  fate 
and  fortune  not  only  ceased  to  flow  forward,  but  was  myste 
riously  thrown  upon  its  reflux.  The  time  of  the  former  had 
come;  that  of  the  latter  was  yet  in  the  untold  distance.  The 
prophetic  doom  cloud,  seen  by  the  aged  seer,  as  described  in 
a  former  chapter,  had  at  last  fallen  on  the  devoted  red  men  ; 
and  their  souls  sunk  within  them  under  the  dark  and  chilling 
prefiguration.  They  felt  that  their  day  of  war  deeds  and 
daring  was  over  and  gone.  And  with  the  conscious  departure 
of  their  power  and  prestige,  the  confederate  tribes  slunk  aw.iy 
fearful  and  dismayed  to  their  old  separate  recesses  in  the  dis 
tant  forests. 

Like  the  frost-smitten  leaves  of  their  own  woods,  they  all 
shrunk  at  the  strange  moral  blight,  scattered,  and  passed 
noiselessly  away — all  but  the  lion-hearted  Metacom.  He, 
though  at  first  amazed  at  the  unexpected  and  shameless  deser 
tion — he  yet  quailed  not  under  this  terrible  blow  to  his  cause  } 
but  his  proud  spirit  seemed  to  grow  more  defiant  und  indom 
itable,  in  proportion  as  -fill  the  crushing  weight  of  his  mis 
fortunes.  He  una  his  faithful  and  still  undaunted  Wampanoog 


WILLIS    CALLED   TO    ACTION.  /  463 

warriors,  one  and  nil,  lifted  up  their  hands  and  swore  hy  the 
red  man's  God,  that  they  at  least  would  fight  on  to  the  bitter 
end  j  and  that  now  returning  to  their  old  dear  haunts  and 
homes,  they  would  take  their  last,  desperate  stand  over  the 
graves  of  their  fathers. 

Ar;d  consequent  on  this,  the  excited  colonists,  who  had  not 
yet  become  apprised  of  the  great,  but  silent  turn  of  affairs  in 
thdr  favor,  were  soon  thrown  into  fresh  consternation  and 
alarm  by  the  sudden  appearance  of  King  Philip  and  his  sup- 
po-ed  numerous  army  of  warriors,  in  the  forests  surrounding 
the  great  ponds  of  Middleborough,  once  the  seat  of  populous 
native  villages,  but  now  almost  in  the  heart  of  the  Plymouth 
colony.  Sufficient  military  forces  WiTe  already  in  the  nVld, 
under  Major  Bradford,  fit  successor  in  the  command  of  the 
Plymouth  troops  to  the  imbecile  Cudworth  of  the  previous 
year. 

But  Bradford  and  his  troops  did  nothing,  except  to  march 
from  town  to  town  along  the  public  roads,  and  kteep  at  a  safe 
distance  from  the  places  where  their  presence  was  most  needed, 
and  the  universal  voice  of  the  alarmed  people  had  gone  up  to 
their  rulers  for  the  appointment  of  more  efficient  military 
leaders.  Captain  Willis  who  had  speedily  wed,  after  the  great 
denouement  we  have  described,  and  retired  with  his  blooming 
bride  to  her  gift  farm  in  Rhode  Island,  had  been  offered, 
before  leaving  town,  a  commission  for  raising  and  leading  one 
company  into  the  field.  This  honor  he  ha  1  declined,  osten- 
sively  on  the  ground  of  his  unwillingness  to  move  with  a  force 
so  inadequate  to  the  emergency. 

But  he  was  not  to  be  let  off  so.  The  current  of  favor  at 
the  court  of  Plymouth,  since  the  death  of  Deacon  Mudgridge 
and  the  consequent  change  in  its  counsels,  had  now  set  as 
strongly  for,  as  previously  against  the  pillant,  but  sham-  fully 
slighted  young  officer.  A  second  commission,  empowering 
him  to  raise  double  the  force  first  specified,  and  conferring  the 


464  THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

rank  of  Major,  soon  followed  him  into  his  retirement.  This 
also  he  respectfully  declined.  But  the  same  messenger  that 
carried  back  the  declination,  returned  post  haste,  within  two 
days,  with  a  third  commission,  with  plenary  powers  to  raise  all 
the  forces  he  could,  assume  an  independent  command,  and 
lead  them  against  the  enemy  with  the  least  possible  delay. 

Yielding  this  time,  but  rather  from  the  convictions  of  duty 
than  any  desire,  for  exchanging  his  domestic  elysium  on  the 
quiet  shores  of  ,l<e  beautiful  Aquidneck,  for  the  honors  of  a 
command  conferring  a  rank  little  less  than  that  of  General,  he 
tore  himself  away  tivm  his  weeping  wife,  and  at  once  entered 
on  the  duties  of  the  contemplated  campaign,  with  a  prompti 
tude  and  activity  commensurate  with  the  urgency  of  the  occa 
sion.  And  so  rapid  and  successful  were  all  his  movements 
and  measures,  that  within  ten  days  he  had  raised,  with  his  old 
company,  who  promptly  rained  at  his  call,  a  force  amply  suf 
ficient,  as  he  believed,  to  effect  his  purposes;  since  they  were 
all  men  who'would  never  hesitate  to  follow  where  he  would 
dare  to  lead  them. 

And  with  these,  after  a  seues  of  daring  adventures  and 
achievements,  which  were  never  perhaps  equaled  in  Indian 
warfare,  he  had  slain  hundreds,  taken  hundreds  of  captives, 
everywhere  routed  the  foe,  and  driven  them  from  forest  to 
forest,  until  they  had  reached  the  fated  goal,  at  which  they 
had  been  steadily  aiming — the  spot  of  hallowed  memories, 
where  their  last  stand  was  to  be  taken. 

Sadly  to  them  broke  the  morning  sun  into  the  last  encamp 
ment  of  the  doomed  Metacom  and  the  still  unyielding  rem 
nant  of  his  faithful  Wampanoogs.  It  was  a  deeply  secluded 
spot,  near  the  southern  slope  of  the  ever  memorable  Mount 
Hope,  opening  to  the  sunny  bay  in  front,  and  everywhere 
hedged  in  and  surrounded  by  a  wide  and  densely  wooded 
morass  in  the  rear.  The  forest  lay  hushed  in  the  breathing 
silence  of  nature,  and  no  sounds  were  heard  save  the  occa- 


PALL  OF   METACOM.  465 

sional  trill  of  the  thicket-loving  wood  bird,  and  the  low,  sul 
len  dashing  of  the  waves  as  their  long  inward  swells  broke 
soughing  along  the  cliffy  base  of  the  neighboring  elevation. 
Ail  nature  seemed  dressed  in  smiles,  but  her  smiles  brought  no 
animating  gladness  to  the  gloomy  suuls  of  the  hunted  warriors 
and  their  sternly  forlorn  chieftain.  He  had  effected  by  war 
*nd  diplomacy  more  the  past  year  than  the  world's  greatest 
warriors,  in  the  same  space  of  time,  and  with  such  uncertain 
elements  for  instruments,  had  ever  accomplished.  He  had 
also  endured  more  of  disappointment  and  affliction  than  any 
of  them  ever  suffered,  and  more  than  any  but  the  sternest  of 
heroes  could  suffer  and  live.  He  had  seen  himself  suddenly 
forsaken,  apparently  on.  the  very  eve  of  a  final  triumph,  by 
fickle  -or  foolishly  panic  struck  allies.  And  then,  as  with 
proud  resolve,  he  turned  his  face  homeward,  he  had  found 
himself  betrayed  by  basely  deserting  friends  and  kindred,  at 
almost  every  step  of  his  progress.  Arid  to  crown  all,  and 
pierce  his  soul  with  redoubled  anguish,  he  had  seen  his  be 
loved  wife  and  darling  son,  surprised,  captured,  and  sold  into 
slavery  by  his  remorseless  pursuers.  And  yet,  under  all  this 
mountain  of  accumulated  woes,  his  proud  and  unsubdued 
spirit  faltered  not,  nor  entertained  one  thought  of  submission. 
That  terrible  red  legion  of  two  thousand  warriors,  whom,  one 
short  year  a«ro,  he  led  forth,  in  all  their  confidence  and  pride, 
to  scatter  over  the  land  in  their  incursive  warfare,  had  now, 
by  the  losses  in  battle,  sickness,  and  capture,  wasted  and 
dwindled  to  nearly  half  as  many  hundreds.  And  these,  the 
sa<!  remnant  of  his  devored  lollowers,  having,  a  day  or  two 
before,  and  unknown  as  they  supposed  to  their  foes,  reached 
their  final  destination,  had  now  gathered  round  the  central 
council-fire  of  their  idolized  chieftain  to  soothe  his  bursting 
1  part.  an<i  still  take  from  his  imperial  lips  their  law  of  guidance 
in  the  Bloomy  emergency.  Moody  and  silent  he  sat,  like  some 
Colossal  iron  statue  in  their  midst  j  while  on  his  sternly  coin- 
30 


466  THE  DOOMED   CHIEF. 

pressed  countenance  rested  that  fearful  expression  of  mingled 
anguish  and  desperation,  which  seems  to  court  death,' and  at 
the  same  time  to  defy  his  approach.  By  his  side  sat  the 
faithful  and  keenly  sympathizing  Wetamoo,  the  beauteous, 
but  vengeful  warrior  queen,  who  had  resolved  never  to  desert 
him  so  long  as  he  had  an  arm  to  raise  against  the  pale  faces. 
In  front  of  these,  flanked  on  either  side  by  rows  of  his  grim 
and  sullen  warriors,  sat  the  stalwart  old  Annawan,  long  the 
great  war  captain  of  the  tribe,  looking,  with  his  rough,  scarred 
visage,  giant  contour  of  frame,  and  fixed  ferocity  of  counte 
nance,  like  some  gnarled,  ancient  mountain  oak;  that  laughs 
at  the  winds,  and  defies  the  bolts  of  heaven. 

"  Last  sleep  I  had  a  dream,"  at  length  slowly  and  gloomily 
said  Metacom,  while  all  eyes  were  turning  with  eager  expect 
ance  to  his  opening  lips — "  I  stood  on  the  shadowy  side  of 
the  silent  river  that  gently  murmured  along  its  half  lighted 
way  between  this  and  the  spirit  land.  Soon,  a  small,  feeble, 
flickering  blaze  of  fire  began  to  be  in  the  air,  just  over  the 
water  about  midway  the  stream  ;  and  growing  stronger  and 
broader  as  it  went,  moved  slowly  on  from  me  across  the 
brightening  expanse,  till,  in  the  shape  of  a  beautiful  cloud  of 
gold,  it  floated  over  the  far-reaching  throng  of  departed  war 
riors,  who,  with  shining  faces,  thickly  lined  that  happy  shore. 
I  looked  on  as  one  looks  who  sees  a  great  wonder.  There, 
beneath  bright,  blue,  smiling  skies,  and  among  green,  pleasant 
forests,  watered  by  sparkling  streams,  stood  the  red  host  of 
rewarded  braves.  The  faces  of  all  were  bright;  but  the  faces 
of  those  slair  in  battle  with  pale  faces  were  the  brightest. 
Their  bullet  scars  glittered  like  spirit  lights  on  their  bodies, 
and  wreathed  scalp-plumes  floated,  like  clustering  stars,  from 
their  heads.  There  stood  the  Narraaanset  braves,  whc 
died  fighting  to  save  our  wives  and  children,  and  with  them 
the  bold  Nanuntenoo,  towering  high  over  the  rest.  And 
there  also,  in  the  fairest,  brightest  spot  of  that  shining  shore, 


METACOM'S  DREAM.  467 

itood  gathered  the  proud  array  of  our  dead  Wampanoog  war 
riors.  My  father,  the  good  old  Massasoit,  was  there.  On 
his  face  seemed  to  rest  a  shade  of  regret  for  having  spared 
and  warmed  into  life  the  nest  of  white  vipers,  to  sting  his 
family  and  tribe,  instead  of  crushing  them  at  first  into  the 
earth  with  his  heel.  By  his  side  stood  my  murdered  brother, 
the  noble  Wamsutta,  with  his  face,  like  an  unsatisfied  spirit, 
turned  wistfully  towards  the  land  of  life,  as  if  to  ask  of  us 
one  mure  deed  of  vengeance  to  appease  his  troubled  soul.  I 
sprang  wildly  forth  for  an  object  on  which  to  do  the  welcome 
bidding,  and,  in  the  effort,  awoke." 

"  Oh,  my  husband  !  my  poor,  poisoned  hushand  I"  wildly  ex 
claimed  the  excited  Wetamoo,  goaded  to  frenzy  by  the  chief's 
dream-wrought  picture  of  the  appearance  of  her  lamented  lord, 
as  seen  in  the  spirit  land.  u  Oh  for  another  blow  at  the  ac 
cursed  pale  faces  ! — Oh  for  another  scalp — one  more  scalp, 
good  Manitou,  that  I  may  take  it,  when  I  go,  to  lay  it  at  his 
feet,  as  an  acceptable  offering  to  his  unsatisfied  vengeance  ! 
Metacom,  I  thank  you.  It  was  a  good — oh;  it  was  a  good 
dream  !" 

"  Ugh  !  Ugh  !"  approvingly  roared  the  old  war  captain,  in 
a  voice  resembling  the  low  bellowing  of  a  bulluek — a  voice  so 
remarkable  for  tone  and  compass  as  to  have  found  a  place  in 
the  histories  of  the  times.  "  The  words  of  Wetamoo  are  the 
•words  of  a  brave,  and  she  has  read  the  dream  with  a  clear 
eye.  The  dream  shows  things  in  the  spirit  land  that  are 
right  to  be  true.  My  old  chief,  Massasoit,  does  well  to  be 
sorry  he  did  not  crush  out  the  hatching  nest  of  the  pale  faces. 
My  young  chief,  Wamsutta,  whom  they  made  to  die  the  death 
of  a  poisoned  dog,  does  well  to  want  more  vengeance.  Anna- 
wan  is  an  old  warrior,  and  his  war-paths  are  strewed  with  the 
bones  of  his  white  enemies.  But  his  arm  is  still  strong,  and 
his  tomahawk  is  sharp.  The  starry  scalp  plu:ne  he  will  carry 
to  the  spirit  land,  is  already  big;  but  he  would  make  it  big- 


468  THE   DOOMED    CHIEF. 

ger.     Yes,  the  woman  warrior  is  right.     The  dream  of 
com  is  a  pood  dream  !" 

"  No,  the  dream  is  a  bad  dream,"  said  one  of  the  warriors, 
in  a  confident  tone. 

"How?"  exclaimed  Metacom,  starting,  and  betiding  on  the 
other  a  look  of  mingled  surprise,  doubt,  and  suspicion. 

"  Much  'fraid  the  dream  a  bad  one,"  responded  the  former, 
moderating  his  tone,  but  evidently  inclined  to  persist  in  his 
opinion.  "  No  good  to  see  faces  of  the  dead  in  a  dre;im. 
And  the  fire  kindled  in  the  air  without  hands,  and  moving 
away  from  him  who  sees  it,  is  the  fire,  the  old  medicine  men 
say,  that  comes  to  light  his  way  to  the  spirit  land  And  it 
will  soon  be  the  fire  to  light  all  our  paths  there,  if  we  stand 
out  much  longer  against  the  pale  faces,  who  are  gathering 
round  us,  a  hundred  to  our  one,  to  kill  us  in  battle.  When 
we  were  many,  we  were  strong-hearted  to  fight,  because  we 
had  hope.  But  now  we  are  few — we  are  nothing — we  have 
no  hope.  There  is  no  fight  in  our  hearts.  It  is  no  use  to 
try  to  fight  any  more.  We  had  better  lay  down  the  bloody 
hatchet.  I  advise  Metacom  to  get  terms  arid  surrender." 

"  Surrender  !"  shouted  the  astonished  chieftain,  springing 
to  his  feet,  with  a  countenance  all  fearfully  alive  with  the 
rapidly  succeeding  shades  of  pain,  chagrin,  and  fiery  indigna 
tion,  that  quivered  and  flashed  over  it — "  surrender,  to  be  sold 
and  become  whipt,  cringing,  groaning  slaves,  as  my  wife  and 
son  have  been  !  Surrender,  on  promised  terms,  and  then  be 
secretly  poisoned  to  death  by  the  base  double-tongued  white 
cowards,  as  my  noble  brother  was  treated  by  the  miscreant 
crew  !  Was  it,"  he  continued,  his  every  feature  glowing  and 
gleaming  more  and  more  fiercely  in  the  gathering  intensity  of 
his  terrible  emotions — "  was  it  a  Wampanoog  warrior  who 
made  that  damning  proposal?  And  shall  one  of  our  hitherto 
undisgraced  tribe,  who  still  claims  to  be  a  warrior  and  a  man, 


PHILIP   SLATS   THE   DISAFFECTED.  469 

be  suffered  to  utter  such  baseness,  and  live  ?  No !  by  the 
eternal  Manitou,  no  !" 

Quick  as  the  lightning* I  flash,  the  arm  that  had  been  lifted 
high  in  the  utterance  of  the  irrevocable  oath,  descended  to 
the  belted  pistol,  and  whirled  the  gleaming  barrel  to  the  line 
level  of  the  quailing  object  of  the  frenzied  denunciation. 
Then  there  was  a  momentary,  an  awful  pause,  in  which  a  cold 
shudder  ran  visibly  through  the  surprised  and  recoiling 
assemblage  ;  and  then,  suddenly,  the  steel  gave  fire,  the  bullet 
spe<l — the  warrior  died  ! 

"  It  is  well,"  growled  the  fierce  old  Annawan,  the  first  to 
rally  from  the  general  amazement  that  had  seized  the  awe 
struck  warriors  at  the  quick  and  terrible  punishment  that  had 
awaited  (his  first,  sign  of  weakness  and  misgiving  in  their 
devoted  band.  '*  Yes,  it  is  well ;  it  is  well  that  he  should 
die  before  his  heart  <;rew  any  softer/' 

"Ay,  it  is — it  is  well!"  eagerly  responded  the  warrior 
queen  also.  "  It  is  more  than  well ;  it  is  right,  it  is  just,  my 
brave  brother,  who  has  been  driven  to  make  the  painful 
sacrifice  to  preserve  unspotted  the  proud  totem-eagle  of  his 
tribe.  Let  every  such  weakness,  in  whomever  betrayed,  meet 
the  same  punishment,  and  with  the  same  swiftness.  Load  up 
your  pistol  again,  noble  Metacom  ;  and  if  you  see  even  the 
poor,  weak  woman,  Wetamoo,  growing  faint  before  the  foe, 
send  the  mercy-meant  bullet  through  her  heart,  and  her 
an  dishonored  soul  shall  thank  you  with  every  wing-flap  of  its 
flight  from  here  to  the  spirit-land/' 

Not  another  word  was  uttered  aloud  by  any;  yet  the  quickly 
exchanged  glances,  and  the  varying  shades  of  sensation  which 
flitted  over  the  faces  of  the  dusky  warriors,  evidently  showed 
that  a  busy  thought  council  was  in  progress  in  their  sympa 
thizing  bosoms.  And,  almost  the  next  moment,  the  rapid 
subsiding  of  the  flashings  of  excitement,  and  the  keenly 
questioning  expressions  that  had  at  first  marked  their  startled 


470  THE    DOOMED    CHIEF. 

countenances,  made  it  equally  evident — followed  as  they  at 
last  were  by  low  murmurs  of  satisfaction — that  their  sileut 
deliberations  had  resulted  in  a  general  verdict  of  approval  of 
the  summary  proceeding  of  their  sovereign  chief,  and  that  he 
was  to  be  sustained  by  all — all,  with  one  solitary  exception. 
That  excepted  one  was  the  brother  of  the  slain  warrior.  His 
brow,  as  he  gloomily  looked  on,  grew  darker  and  darker  with 
displeasure  and  meditated  revenge  ;  and  soon  rising,  he  took 
his  gun,  edged  away  from  the  throng,  and  disappeared  in  the 
forest.  An  uneasy  and  suspicious  look  passed  over  the  face 
of  Metacom,  as  his  eye  fell  on  the  retreating  figure.  But, 
either  from  that  strange  apathy  that  grows  of  despair,  or  from 
his  ignorance  of  the  fact  that  his  white  foes,  though  as  yet 
unapprised  of  the  location  of  his  camp,  were  already  within  a 
mile  of  him  in  the  rear,  the  chief  made  no  corresponding 
movement,  sent  out  no  scouts,  arid  stationed  no  guarding  out 
post  ;  but,  with  the  rest  of  his  devoted  band,  soon  relapsed 
into  the  stern,  moody  silence  which  had  been  broken  by  the 
occurrence  of  the  sad  scene  we  have  been  describing.  And 
another  gloomy  hour  passed  away  without  incident  or  alarm. 
But  the  dread  moment  of  doom  had  now,  at  length,  arrived. 
Suddenly  as  the  breaking  thunder-clap,  burst  from  a  concealing 
thicket  near  by  a  deafening  volley  of  musketry,  and  a  shower 
of  bullets  was  poured  in  upon  the  devoted  camp. 

Leaping  for  their  arms,  the  surprised  and  dismayed  war 
riors  instantly  scattered,  fled,  and  quickly  disappeared  among 
the  protecting  and  supposed  unoccupied  thickets  of  the  swamp 
in  their  rear.  Not  yet  venturing  to  make  their  appearance, 
the  small  party  of  white  assailants  still  kept  close  and  quiet 
in  their  coverts  ;  and  all,  for  a  brief  interval,  relapsed  into 
silence.  Presently,  however,  the  report  of  a  single  musket 
Bent  its  ominous  peal  through  the  forests,  arid  the  next  mo 
ment,  a  fierce  shout  of  exultation,  portending.no  common  tro 
phy,  burst  from  one  of  the  secreted  bands  of  the  stealthy 


DEATH  OP   KING   PHILIP.  471 

invaders,  and  being  quickly  caught  up,  went  ringing,  with 
fresh  outbursts  of  hurras,  from  station  to  station  along  the 
whole  extended  line  of  the  ambushing  troops.  The  shout 
was  soon  repeated  at  the  starting  point :  and  this  time  dis 
tinctly  came  the  words,  "  KING  PHILIP  is  SLAIN  !  slain  ly 
the  bullet  of  the  deserting  Indian  ;  and  the  great  enemy  is  at 
last  overthrown  !" 

These  jubilant  demonstrations  had  scarcely  died  away,  be 
fore  they  were  succeeded  by  other  sounds,  that  fell  on  the  ear 
in  sad  and  painful  contrast.  From  every  part  of  the  distant 
thickets  rose  the  wild  wail  of  the  red  warriors,  who,  but  too 
well  comprehending  what  had  befell,  had  paused  in  their 
flight  thus  to  give  voice  to  their  grief  and  despair  at  the  fall 
of  their  idolized  chieftain.  Then  was  heard  the  stentorian 
roar  of  old  Annawan,  in  rallying  the  fugitives  to  come  to  a 
stand,  and  avenge  the  death  of  their  great  leader.  And  for 
a  few  minutes  the  woods  resounded  with  the  battle  cries  of 
the  combatants,  and  the  scattering  fire  of  the  pursuers  and 
pursued.  But  the  shots  growing  fewer  and  fainter  in  the 
distance,  and  soon  followed  by  another  shout  of  victory,  told 
that  the  brief  contest  was  over,  and  that  all  was  lost,  forever 
lost,  to  the  red  men. 

But  where,  in  the  meanwhile,  was  the  luckless,  woe-wed 
We  tarn  oo  ?  Had  she  escaped  here,  as  had  many  of  the 
wretched  remnant  of  her  people,  onfy  soon  to  be  captured 
elsewhere,  and  sold  into  slavery,  or  shot  as  was  the  lionlike 
old  Annawan?  No;  she  had  resolved  to  have  her  destiny 
within  her  own  keeping;  and  hers  was  to  be  a  more  befitting 
fate,  and  one  far  more  consonant  with  her  high-wrought  feel 
ings  and  desperate  purposes.  With  a  strange  prescience  of  the 
calamity  at  hand,  she  had,  at  the  moment  of  the  alarm,  instead 
of  fleeing  into  the  thickets  of  the  swamp  with  the  rest,  in 
stinctively  made  her  way  to  the  water  side.  And  here  within 
the  covert  of  tlie  scantily  screening  coppice,  she  stood,  still 


~« 

472  THE   DOOMED   CHIEF. 

unmoved  and  unquailing  as  the  flinty  rocks  at  her  feet,  and 
awaited  the  result  in  silence,  until  the  dread  announcement 
of  the  death  of  her  royal  brother  fell  on  her  anguished  ear  ; 
when  she  joined  in  the  general  death  cry  then  raised  by  the 
scattering  warriors,  in  a  wail  so  shrill  and  loud  as  instantly  to 
bring  upon  her  the  pursuit  of  a  party  of  her  foes,  who  had 
by  this  time  reached  the  camp  she  had  just  left. 

She  then,  with  her  pursuers  pressing  on  hotly  behind  her, 
rapidly  forced  her  obstructed  and  difficult  way  along  theshelvy 
and  precipitous  shore  of  the  bay,  winding  up  the  adjoining 
elevation,  till  she  had  nearly  gained  the  summit;  when  she 
caught  sight  of  another  party  of  her  foes  coming  up  the  op 
posite  side  of  the  hill  to  intercept  her  course,  and  with  those 
in  her  rear,  make  sure  of  the  prize  of  so  noted  a  prisoner. 

In  the  quick  glance  she  threw  around  her,  in  her  now  hope 
less  emergency,  she  caught  a  glimpse  of  a  tall  perpendicular 
cliff,  rising  from  a  partially  screening  clump  of  bushes,  a 
short  distance  to  her  right,  and  beetling  directly  over  the  dark 
chasm  of  the  ocean  waves  dashing  against  its  base  far,  far 
away  down  beneath,  and  her  eye  sparkled  with  fierce  joy  at 
the  sight.  In  one  moment  her  resolution  was  taken,  and  in 
another  she  was  standing  on  the  dizzy  brink  of  the  cliff,  tow 
ering  up  in  the  wild  beauty  of  her  matchless  form,  like  the 
chiseled  marble  on  its  pedestal,  and  frowning  her  defiance  on 
her  despised  pursuers,  who,  having  closed  up  within  a  few 
yards  of  the  rock  on  which  she  stood,  were  pausing  in  their 
doubts  of  her  questionable  purposes. 

"  So/'  she  at  length  exclaimed,  with  a  look  of  ineffable 
scorn  and  hate,  "  so  you  think  to  take  the  warrior  queen  to 
lead  round,  with  boasts  of  the  brave  deed  of  capturing  a  lone, 
unarmed  squaw,  and  show  her  to  your  scared  and  wondering 
women  and  children,  who  have  so  often  turned  pale  at  her 
name — you  think  thus  to  make  her  a  thing  of  show  and 
triumph,  till  you  get  ready  to  give  her  over,  like  a  sold  dog, 


SUICIDE   OP   WETAMOO.  473 

to  the  lash  of  the  slave-driver  as  you  did  tho  wife  and  child 
of  the  slain  Metacom — you  think  to  take  her  alive  for  such 
ignoble  purposes,  do  you,  ye  white  wolves?  Wetamoo'a  l«ui« 
strained  heart  is  ready  to  burst.  She  is  ready  to  die,  but  not 
by  the  hands  of  the  hated  pale  faces.  She  goes  to  join  her  poor, 
poisoned  husband  in  the  spirit-land,  who  is  there  constantly 
besieging  the  Great  Manitou  to  send  death  and  desolation  on 
the  race  of  his  cowardly  murderers.  She  goes,  but  she  leaves 
her  bitter,  her  crying  curse  on  ymi,  ve  pitiful,  double  ton^'Ued 
thieves,  and  on  the  whole  land  you  have  stolen  from  the  red 
man  and  fattened  with  his  blood,  and  let  that  curse  be  her  fare 
well,  to  remain  on  you  and  your  guilty  land,  till  the  Heaven- 
heard  cries  of  the  wrongs  and  blood  of  a  plundered  people 
shall  all  be  appeased  in  the  terrible  atonement." 

She  ceased  ;  and  while  the  thrilling  sounds  of  the  last  of 
her  high  heaped  anathemas  were  yet  echoing  among  the  rocks 
around,  her  exasperated  assailants  made  a  sudden  rush  to  seize 
arid  drai:  her  down  by  the  feet.  But  her  wary  eye  was  too  quick 
for  the  baffled  woman  hunters.  With  a  quickness  of  the 
outstarting  antelope,  she  leaped,  ^ith  a  wild  cry  of  exulta 
tion,  out  wide  from  the  fearful  brink,  and  then  descended, 
like  a  bow-driven  arrow,  to  her  watery  grave  below. 


THB  END, 


NEW  AND  LATE  BOOKS 


FURNISHED    BY   THK 


Putttihtn  of  this  Volume, 


MAILING  NOTICE.—  Any  boofis  on  the  following  list  will  be  :ent, 
-,*id,  to  any  addr,  w.  on  receipt  of  price.     Andres*  THE  PUBLISHERS 
*^«  Jn**R.    *««  title  «»*•- 


HISTORICAL    A]*TD    SECRET    MEMOIRS    OF    THff 

EMPRESS  JonApaixB.  A  secret  and  truthful  history  of  one  of  the  most  remarkably 
Of  women,  uniting  All  the  value  of  absorbing  facts  with  that  of  the  most  excitinf 
romance.  Translated  from  the  French  of  M'lle  Le  Normand,  by  JACOB  M.  HOT/- 
AF«  E«q.  2  vois.  in  one.  Cloth.  Price  $1  75. 


MEMOIRS  or  THE  COURT  OF  MARIE 

KETTE.  An  instructive  work  —  one  of  the  most  intensely  interesting  ever  issued 
from  the  American  press  —  the  events  of  which  should  be  familiar  to  all.  Bf^s 
MADAME  CAMPAN.  With  Biographical  Introduction  by  M.  DE 
Tols.  in  one.  Cloth.  Price  $1  75. 


MEMOIRS  OE  THE  LIFE  OF  MART,  QUEEST  o* 

SCOTS.  Affording  a  complete  and  authentic  history  ot  the  unfortunate  Mary,  with 
materials  and  letters  not  used  by  other  authors,  making  up  a  volume  of  rare  In 
terest  and  value.  By  Miss  BKNQKK.  With  portrait  oa  steal.  2  vols.  izi  on«. 
Price  $1  75. 


5  NEW  AND  LATE  BOOKS. 

MEMOIRS  OF  THE  QUEENS  OF  FRANCE.    Writ- 

ten  in  Fraace,  carefully  compiled  from  researches  made  there,  commended  by 
the  press  geueially,  aud  published  from  the  Teuih  London  Edition.  It  is  a  truly 
raluable  work  for  th«  reader  aud  student  of  history.  By  MRS.  FORBES  BUSH. 
2  Tola,  in  one.  Cloth.  Price  $1  75. 


MEMOIRS   OF   THE  LIFE   OF   ANNE  BOLETN, 

QUEEN  OF  HENRY  VIII.  In  the  records  of  biography  there  is  no  character  that 
more  forcibly  txt-mplifies  the  vanity  of  human  ambition,  or  more  thoroughly 
enlists  the  attention  of  the  reader  than  this— the  Seventh  American,  and  from 
the  Third  London  Edition.  By  Mis3  BENQER.  With  portrait  on  steel.  Cloth.  $1  75. 

HEROIC  "WOMEN  OF  HISTORY.    Containing  the 

mo-t  extraordinary  examples  of  female  courage  of  ancient  and  mode 'n  times, 
aud  set  before  (he  wives,  sisters,  and  daughters  of  the  country,  in  the  hope  that 
it  may  make  them  even  more  renowp.ed  for  resolution,  fortitude,  and  self-sacrifice 
than  the  Spartan  females  of  old.  By  HENRY  C.  WATSOW.  With  Illustration*. 
Cloth.  $1  75. 


PUBLIC  AND  PRIVATE  HISTORY  OF  Louis 

POLRON,  EMPKROR  OF  THE  FRENCH.  An  impartial  view  of  the  public  and  privat* 
career  of  this  extraordinary  man,  giviug  full  information  in  regard  to  his  most 
distinguished  ministers,  generals,  relatives  and  favorites.  By  SAMUEL  M. 
SCHMUCKER,  LL.  D.  With  portraits  on  Steel.  Cloth.  $1  75. 


LIFE  AND  REIGN  OF  NICHOLAS  I.,  EMPEROB 

OF  RCSSIA.  The  only  complete  history  of  this  great  personage  that  has  appeared 
in  the  English  language,  ?,ud  furnishes  inieresting  facts  in  connection  with  Rus 
sian  society  and  government  of  great  practical  value  to  the  attentive  reiser.  By 
SAMUEL  M.  SCHMUCKER,  LL  D.  With  Illustrations.  Cloth.  $1  75. 


AND  TIMES  OF  GEORGE  WASHINGTON. 

A  concise  aud  condensed  narrative  of  Washington's  career,  especially  adapted  to 
the  popular  reader,  and  presented  as  the  best  matter  upon  this  immortal  themo— 
one  especially  worthy  the  attention  and  admiration  of  every  American.  B/ 
BAJCCEL  M.  SCHMUCKBR,  LL.  D.  With  Portrait  on  steel.  Cloth.  $1  75. 


NEW  AND  LATE  LOOKS.  3 

AND  TIMES  OF  ALEXANDER  HAMILTON. 

lucidi-uts  of  a  career  lhat  will  never  lose  its  singular  power  to  attract  and  in 
struct,  while  giving  impressive  lessons  of  the  brightest  elements  of  character, 
•urroanaed  and  assailed  by  the  basest.  By  SAMCEL  M.  SCHMUCKER,  LL.  D.  With 
Portrait  OQ  steel.  Cloth.  $175. 


LIFE  ^ND  TIMES  OF  THOMAS  JEFFERSON.    In 


which  tne  author  has  presented  both  the  merits  and  defects  of  this  great  repre 
sentative  h*ro  in  their  true  light,  and  has  studiously  avoided  indiscriminate 
praise  01  wholesale  censure.  By  SAMUELJU.  SCHMUCKER,  LL.  D.  With  Portrait 
CUlh.  *t  73. 


LIFE  o*  DENJAMIN  FRANKLIN.    Furnishing  a 

superior  avl  comprehensive  record  of  this  celebrated  Statesman  and  Philoso- 
pher  —  rich  ueyond  parallel  in  lessons  of  wisdom  for  every  age,  calling  and  con 
dition  in  lite.,  yrblic  ajcr  private.  By  0  L.  HOLLET.  With  Portrait  on  steel  and 
Illustration*  -m  woou.  Cloth.  $1  75. 


PUBLIC  A^ri^  PRIVATE  LIFE  OF  DANIEL 


STER.  The  in  ist  copious  and  attractive  collection  of  personal  memorials  concern 
ing  the  greav  Statesman  that  has  hitherto  been  published,  and  by  one  whose 
intimate  and  confidential  relations  with  him  afford  a  guarantee  for  their  authen 
ticity.  By  Gen.  to.  *>.  LTMAN.  With  Illustrations.  Cloth.  $1  75. 

LIFE  AND  TLMJIS  OF  HENRY  CLAY.    An-impar- 

tial  biography,  presenting,  by  bold  and  simple  strokes  of  the  historic  peicil,  6 
portraiture  of  the  illustrious  theme  which  no  one  should  fail  to  read,  and  ne 
Mbrary  be  without.  By  SAMUEL  M.  SCHJHJCKER,  LL.  D.  With  Portrait  on  steal 
Cloth.  $1  75. 

LIFE  AND  PUBLIC  SERVICES  OF  STEPHEN  A. 

DOUGLAS.  A  true  and  faithful  exposition  of  the  leading  incidents  of  his  brilliant 
career  arranged  so  as  to  instruct  the  reader  and  produce  the  careful  study  which 
the  life  of  so  great  a  man.  deserves.  By  H.  M.  FLINT.  With  Portrait  on  *tea* 
Cloth,  f  1  75. 


4  NEW  AND  LATE  BOOKS. 

LIFE  AND  PUBLIC  SERVICES  or  ABRAHAM  LINN 

COLN.  (la  both  the  English  and  German  languages.)  As  a  record  of  this  great 
man  it  ia  a  most  desirable  work,  admirably  arranged  for  reference,  with  am 
index  over  each  page,  from  which  the  reader  can  familiarize  himself  with  th« 
contents  by  glancing  through  it.  By  FRANK  CROSBY,  of  the  Philadelphia  Bar. 
With  Portrait  on  steel.  Cloth.  $1  75. 


OF  DANIEL  BOONE,  THE  GREAT  WESTERN 

Hrjx-rijB  AND  PIONEER.  Comprising  graphic  and  authentic  accounts  of  his  daring, 
thrilling  adventures,  wonderful  skill,  coolness  and  sagacity  under  »he  most  haz 
ardous  circumstances,  with  an  autobiography  dictated  by  himself  By  CECIL  B. 
HARTLEY.  With  Illustration*.  Cloth.  $1  75. 

LIFE  OF  COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKET,  THE  ORI^ 

GINAL  HUMORIST  AND  IRREPRESSIBLE  BACKWOODSMAN.  Showing  his  strong  will 
and  indomitable  spirit,  his  bear  hunting,  his  military  services,  his  career  in  Con 
gress,  and  his  triumphal  tour  through  the  States — written  by  himself;  to  which 
is  added  the  account  of  his  glorious  death  at  tke  Alamo.  With  Illustrations. 
Cloth.  $1  75. 

LIFE  OF  KIT  CARSON,  THE  GREAT  WESTERN 

HUNTER  AND  GUIDE.  An  exciting  volume  of  wild  and  romantic  exploits,  thrilling 
adventures,  hair-breadth  escapes,  daring  coolness,  moral  and  physical  courage, 
and  invaluable  services— such  as  rarely  transpire  in  the  history  of  the  wor'd. 
By  CHARLES  BUKDETT.  With  Illustrations.  Cloth.  $1  75. 

LIFE  OF  CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH,  THE  FOUNDER 

op  VIRGINIA.  The  adventures  contained  nerein  serve  to  denote  the  more  noble 
and  daring  events  of  a  period  distinguished  by  its  spirit,  its  courage,  aud  its  pas 
sion,  and  challenges  the  attention  of  the  American  people.  By  W.  GILMOOB 
With  Illustrations.  Price  $1  75. 


LIFE   OF    GENERAL   FRANCIS   MARION,   THE 

CELEBRATED  P  ..SAX  HERO  OF  THE  REVOLUTION.  This  was  one  of  the  most 
distinguished  n  who  .  •,  .-,..  .a  „:  Trand  theatre  of  war  during  the  times  that 
"tried  men's  so  .'V  and  his  bnuo-v  cr«.rjs;  ^as  scarcely  a  parallel  in  lujtory. 
.  HAS  HEY.  With  Illustrations.  Clotu.  -7175. 


NEW  AND  LATE  BOOKS.  5 

OF  GENERAL  ANDREW  JACKSON,  THE 

CELEBRATED  PATRIOT  AND  STATESMAN.  The  character  here  shown  as  firm  in  will, 
elear  in  judgment,  rapid  in  decision  and  decidedly  pronounced,  sprung  from  com 
parative  obscurity  to  the  highest  gift  within  the  power  of  the  American  peopl*, 
and  is  prolific  in  interest.  By  ALEXANDER  WALKER.  $1  75. 

•* 

LIFE  AND  TIMES  OF  GENERAL  SAM  HOUSTON", 

THE  HUNTER,  PATRIOT,  AND  STATESMAN.  It  reminds  one  of  the  story  of  Romulns— 
•who  was  nurtured  by  the  beasts  of  the  forest  till  he  planted  the  foundations  of  a, 
mighty  empire — and  stands  alone  as  an  authentic  memoir.  With  Maps,  Portrait, 
and  Illustrations.  Cloth.  $1  75. 

LIVES   OF   THE   THREE   MRS.   JUDSONS,  THE 

CELEBRATED  FEMALE  MISSIONARIES.  The  domestic  lives  and  individual  labors  ot 
these  three  bright  stars  in  the  galaxy  of  American  heroines,  who  in  ministering 
to  the  souls  of  heathens,  experienced  much  of  persecution.  By  CECIL  B.  HARTLET. 
With  steel  Portraits.  Cloth.  $1  75. 

LIFE  OF  ELISIIA  KENT  KANE,  AND  OF  OTHER 

DISTINGUISHED  AMERICAN  EXPLORERS.  A  narrative  of  the  discoverers  who  pos- 
»e.-s  the  strongest  hold  upon  public  interest  and  attention,  and  one  of  the  few 
deeply  interesting  volumes  of  distinguished  Americans  of  this  class.  By  SAMUEL 
H.  SCHMUCKER,  LL.  D.  With  Portrait  on  steel.  Cloth.  $1  75. 

THE   LIFE   AND   ADVENTURES    OF    PAULINE 

CrsHMA.x,  THE  CELEBRATED  T'siON  SPY  AND  SCOUT.  Stirring  details  from  the  lip« 
of  the  subject  herself,  whose  courage,  heroism,  and  devotion  to  the  old  flag,  en 
deared  her  to  the  Army  of  the  Southwest.  By  F.  L.  SARMIENTO,  Esq.,  Member 
of  the  Philadelphia  Bar.  With  Portrait  on  steel  and  Illustrations  on  wood. 
Cioth.  $1  75. 

JEFFERSON  DAVIS  AND  STONEWALL  JACKSON: 

THE  LIFE  AND  PUBLIC  SERVICES  OF  EACH.  Truths  from  the  lives  of  these  men, 
koth  of  whom  served  their  country  before  the  war,  and  afterwards  threw  them 
selves  into  the  cause  of  the  South  with  unbounded  zeal — affording  valuable  hi** 
vOrio  facts  for  all,  North  and  South.  With  Illustrations.  Cloth.  $176. 


NEW  AND  LATE  BOOKS. 


CORSICA,  AND  THE  EARLY  LIFE  or  IST 


DeMcaiely  drawn  idyllic  descriptions  of  the  I-laud.  yielding  new  light  to  political 
history,  exciting  much  attention  in  Germany  and  England,  and  altogsther  mavy 
a  "book  of  rare  character  and  value.    Translated  by  Hon.  E.  JOY  MOKKI*      With 
?^x-traU  on  steel.     Clotn.     $1  75. 

Tar  HORSE  AND  HIS  DISEASES:  EMBRACING 

HIS  IIisTORr  AND  VARIETIES,  BREEDING  AND  MANAGEMENT,  AND  VICES.  A  splenain, 
complete,  and  reliable  book—  the  work  of  more  than  fifteen  years'  careful  study- 
pointing  out  diseases  accurately,  and  recommending  remedies  that  have  siood  the 
test  oi  actual  trial.  To  which  is  added  "  RARET'S  METHOD  OF  TRAINING  HORSES." 
By  ROBERT  JENNINGS,  V.  S.  With  nearly  one  hundred  Illustrations.  Cloth,  fl  75. 


SHEEP,  SWINE,  AND  POULTRY.    Enumerating 

the'r  varieties  and  histories;  the  best  modes  of  breeding,  feeding,  and  managing; 
the  diseases  to  which  they  are  subject ;  the  best  remedies — and  offering  the  best 
practical  treatise  of  its  kind  now  published.  By  ROBERT  JENNINGS,  V.  S.  With 
numerous  Illustrations.  Clotk.  $1  75. 


CATTLE  AXD  THEIR  DISEASES.     Giving  their 

history  and  breeds,  crossing  and  breeding,  feeding  and  management;  with  the 
diseases  to  which  they  are  subject,  and  the  remedies  best  adapted  to  their  cure; 
to  which  is  added  a  li.-t  of  remedies  used  in  treating  cattle.  By  ROBERT  Jm»- 
.  S.  With  numerous  Illustrations.  Cloth.  $1  75. 


HORSE  TRAINING  MADE  EASY.     A  new  and 

practical  system  of  Teaching  aud  Educating  the  Horse,  including  whip  training 
and  thorough  instructions  in  regard  to  shoeing  —  full  of  information  of  a  useful 
and  well-tested  character.  By  ROBERT  JENNINGS,  V.  S.  With  numerous  Illus 
trations.  Cloth.  $1  25. 


600  RECEIPTS  WORTH  THEIR  WEIGHT  IN  GOLD, 

An.  unequalled  varie'y  in  kind,  the  collection  and  test  ing  of  which  have  extended 
Vkvough  a  period  of  thirty  years  —  a  number  of  them  having  never  before  app«ared 
in  print,  while  all  are  simple,  plain,  and  highly  meritorious.  By  JOHN  MA> 
OPART,  «f  Lebanon,  Pa.  Cloth.  $1  75. 


THIS  BOOK  IS  DUB  ON  THE  LAST  DATE 
STAMPED  BELOW 

AN  INITIAL  FINE  OF  25  CENTS 

WILL  BE  ASSESSED  FOR  FAILURE  TO  RETURN 
THIS  BOOK  ON  THE  DATE  DUE.  THE  PENALTY 
WILL  INCREASE  TO  SO  CENTS  ON  THE  FOURTH 
DAY  AND  TO  $1.OO  ON  THE  SEVENTH  DAY 
OVERDUE. 


MAR  31  1944 


OCT    21982 


flCT  1 0 1983 


3uis 


•12 


p 

r.    1QQH 


LD  21-100m-7,'40 (6936s) 


M88261 


THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


*    A    * 


w 


I!  HJ: 


